Page 448 - nostromo-a-tale-of-the-seaboard

because whatever happened his honour of an old officer
of Paez was safe. He had promised Charles Gould that at
the approach of an armed force he would defend the gorge
just long enough to give himself time to destroy scientifi-
cally the whole plant, buildings, and workshops of the mine
with heavy charges of dynamite; block with ruins the main
tunnel, break down the pathways, blow up the dam of the
water-power, shatter the famous Gould Concession into
fragments, flying sky high out of a horrified world. The
mine had got hold of Charles Gould with a grip as deadly
as ever it had laid upon his father. But this extreme resolu-
tion had seemed to Don Pepe the most natural thing in the
world. His measures had been taken with judgment. Every-
thing was prepared with a careful completeness. And Don
Pepe folded his hands pacifically on his sword hilt, and nod-
ded at the priest. In his excitement, Father Roman had flung
snuff in handfuls at his face, and, all besmeared with to-
bacco, round-eyed, and beside himself, had got out of the
hammock to walk about, uttering exclamations.
Don Pepe stroked his grey and pendant moustache,
whose fine ends hung far below the clean-cut line of his jaw,
and spoke with a conscious pride in his reputation.
‘So, Padre, I don’t know what will happen. But I know
that as long as I am here Don Carlos can speak to that ma-
caque, Pedrito Montero, and threaten the destruction of the
mine with perfect assurance that he will be taken seriously.
For people know me.’
He began to turn the cigar in his lips a little nervously,
and went on—