Ностромо
Chapter 6
Gouldknewthatverywell,and,armedwithresignation,hadwaitedforbettertimes.Buttoberobbedundertheformsoflegalityandbusinesswasintolerabletohisimagination.Mr.Gould,thefather,hadonefaultinhissagaciousandhonourablecharacter:heattachedtoomuchimportancetoform.Itisafailingcommontomankind,whoseviewsaretingedbyprejudices.Therewasforhiminthataffairamalignancyofpervertedjusticewhich,bymeansofamoralshock,attackedhisvigorousphysique.“Itwillendbykillingme,”heusedtoaffirmmanytimesaday.And,infact,sincethattimehebegantosufferfromfever,fromliverpains,andmostlyfromaworryinginabilitytothinkofanythingelse.TheFinanceMinistercouldhaveformednoconceptionoftheprofoundsubtletyofhisrevenge.EvenMr.Gould’sletterstohisfourteen-year-oldboyCharles,thenawayinEnglandforhiseducation,cameatlasttotalkofpracticallynothingbutthemine.Hegroanedovertheinjustice,thepersecution,theoutrageofthatmine;heoccupiedwholepagesintheexpositionofthefatalconsequencesattachingtothepossessionofthatminefromeverypointofview,witheverydismalinference,withwordsofhorrorattheapparentlyeternalcharacterofthatcurse.FortheConcessionhadbeengrantedtohimandhisdescendantsforever.