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Chapter 4
Allthesecasesweredoingwell;butwhenhecametothedeadCargadorhestoppedalittlelonger,surveyingnotthemanwhohadceasedtosuffer,butthewomankneelinginsilentcontemplationoftherigidface,withitspinchednostrilsandawhitegleamintheimperfectlyclosedeyes.Sheliftedherheadslowly,andsaidinadullvoice—
“ItisnotlongsincehehadbecomeaCargador—onlyafewweeks.HisworshiptheCapatazhadacceptedhimaftermanyentreaties.”
“IamnotresponsibleforthegreatCapataz,”mutteredthedoctor,movingoff.
DirectinghiscourseupstairstowardsthedoorofCharlesGould’sroom,thedoctoratthelastmomenthesitated;then,turningawayfromthehandlewithashrugofhisunevenshoulders,slunkoffhastilyalongthecorredorinsearchofMrs.Gould’scamerista.
Leonardotoldhimthatthesenorahadnotrisenyet.ThesenorahadgivenintoherchargethegirlsbelongingtothatItalianposadero.She,Leonarda,hadputthemtobedinherownroom.Thefairgirlhadcriedherselftosleep,butthedarkone—thebigger—hadnotclosedhereyesyet.Shesatupinbedclutchingthesheetsrightupunderherchinandstaringbeforeherlikealittlewitch.LeonardadidnotapproveoftheViolachildrenbeingadmittedtothehouse.Shemadethisfeelingclearbytheindifferenttoneinwhichsheinquiredwhethertheirmotherwasdeadyet.Astothesenora,shemustbeasleep.