Page 250 - nostromo-a-tale-of-the-seaboard

sentimentalists to deal with.’
‘I don’t know that I understand you, Don Martin,’ said
Mrs. Gould, coldly, preserving the low key of their conver-
sation. ‘But, speaking as if I did, who is the other?’
‘The great Holroyd in San Francisco, of course,’ Decoud
whispered, lightly. ‘I think you understand me very well.
Women are idealists; but then they are so perspicacious.’
But whatever was the reason of that remark, disparaging
and complimentary at the same time, Mrs. Gould seemed
not to pay attention to it. The name of Holroyd had given a
new tone to her anxiety.
‘The silver escort is coming down to the harbour tomor-
row; a whole six months’ working, Don Martin!’ she cried
in dismay.
‘Let it come down, then,’ breathed out Decoud, earnestly,
almost into her ear.
‘But if the rumour should get about, and especially if it
turned out true, troubles might break out in the town,’ ob-
jected Mrs. Gould.
Decoud admitted that it was possible. He knew well the
town children of the Sulaco Campo: sullen, thievish, vin-
dictive, and bloodthirsty, whatever great qualities their
brothers of the plain might have had. But then there was
that other sentimentalist, who attached a strangely idealis-
tic meaning to concrete facts. This stream of silver must be
kept flowing north to return in the form of financial back-
ing from the great house of Holroyd. Up at the mountain
in the strong room of the mine the silver bars were worth
less for his purpose than so much lead, from which at least