Ностромо

           Thisminecanwait;ithasbeenshutupbefore,asyouknow.Youmustunderstandthatundernocircumstanceswillweconsenttothrowgoodmoneyafterbad.”

           Thusthegreatpersonagehadspokenthen,inhisownprivateoffice,inagreatcitywhereothermen(veryconsiderableintheeyesofavainpopulace)waitedwithalacrityuponawaveofhishand.Andrathermorethanayearlater,duringhisunexpectedappearanceinSulaco,hehademphasizedhisuncompromisingattitudewithafreedomofsinceritypermittedtohiswealthandinfluence.Hedidthiswiththelessreserve,perhaps,becausetheinspectionofwhathadbeendone,andmorestillthewayinwhichsuccessivestepshadbeentaken,hadimpressedhimwiththeconvictionthatCharlesGouldwasperfectlycapableofkeepinguphisend.

           “Thisyoungfellow,”hethoughttohimself,“mayyetbecomeapowerintheland.”

           Thisthoughtflatteredhim,forhithertotheonlyaccountofthisyoungmanhecouldgivetohisintimateswas—

           “Mybrother-in-lawmethiminoneoftheseone-horseoldGermantowns,nearsomemines,andsenthimontomewithaletter.He’soneoftheCostaguanaGoulds,pure-bredEnglishmen,butallborninthecountry.Hisunclewentintopolitics,wasthelastProvincialPresidentofSulaco,andgotshotafterabattle.HisfatherwasaprominentbusinessmaninSta.Marta,triedtokeepclearoftheirpolitics,anddiedruinedafteralotofrevolutions.Andthat’syourCostaguanainanutshell.