Ностромо

           Hesmiledquietly,too;andimmediatelyCharlesGould,withthatmentalagilitymankindwilldisplayindefenceofacherishedhope,reflectedthattheveryapparentinsignificanceofhisaimwouldhelphimtosuccess.Hispersonalityandhisminewouldbetakenupbecauseitwasamatterofnogreatconsequence,onewayoranother,toamanwhoreferredhisactiontosuchaprodigiousdestiny.AndCharlesGouldwasnothumiliatedbythisconsideration,becausethethingremainedasbigaseverforhim.Nobodyelse’svastconceptionsofdestinycoulddiminishtheaspectofhisdesirefortheredemptionoftheSanTomemine.Incomparisontothecorrectnessofhisaim,definiteinspaceandabsolutelyattainablewithinalimitedtime,theothermanappearedforaninstantasadreamyidealistofnoimportance.

           Thegreatman,massiveandbenignant,hadbeenlookingathimthoughtfully;whenhebroketheshortsilenceitwastoremarkthatconcessionsflewaboutthickintheairofCostaguana.Anysimplesoulthatjustyearnedtobetakenincouldbringdownaconcessionatthefirstshot.

           “Ourconsulsgettheirmouthsstoppedwiththem,”hecontinued,withatwinkleofgenialscorninhiseyes.Butinamomenthebecamegrave.“Aconscientious,uprightman,thatcaresnothingforboodle,andkeepsclearoftheirintrigues,conspiracies,andfactions,soongetshispassports.Seethat,Mr.Gould?Personanongrata.That’sthereasonourGovernmentisneverproperlyinformed.