Ностромо
Chapter 6
Somescornfulyoungmen,insignificantpiecesofminormachineryinthateleven-storey-highworkshopofgreataffairs,expressedfranklytheirprivateopinionthatthegreatchiefhaddoneatlastsomethingsilly,andwasashamedofhisfolly;others,elderlyandinsignificant,butfullofromanticreverenceforthebusinessthathaddevouredtheirbestyears,usedtomutterdarklyandknowinglythatthiswasaportentoussign;thattheHolroydconnectionmeantby-and-bytogetholdofthewholeRepublicofCostaguana,lock,stock,andbarrel.But,infact,thehobbytheorywastherightone.ItinterestedthegreatmantoattendpersonallytotheSanTomemine;itinterestedhimsomuchthatheallowedthishobbytogiveadirectiontothefirstcompleteholidayhehadtakenforquiteastartlingnumberofyears.Hewasnotrunningagreatenterprisethere;nomererailwayboardorindustrialcorporation.Hewasrunningaman!Asuccesswouldhavepleasedhimverymuchonrefreshinglynovelgrounds;but,ontheothersideofthesamefeeling,itwasincumbentuponhimtocastitoffutterlyatthefirstsignoffailure.Amanmaybethrownoff.ThepapershadunfortunatelytrumpetedalloverthelandhisjourneytoCostaguana.IfhewaspleasedatthewayCharlesGouldwasgoingon,heinfusedanaddedgrimnessintohisassurancesofsupport.Evenattheverylastinterview,halfanhourorsobeforeherolledoutofthepatio,hatinhand,behindMrs.
