Page 97 - nostromo-a-tale-of-the-seaboard

was to remark that concessions flew about thick in the air of
Costaguana. Any simple soul that just yearned to be taken
in could bring down a concession at the first shot.
‘Our consuls get their mouths stopped with them,’ he
continued, with a twinkle of genial scorn in his eyes. But in
a moment he became grave. ‘A conscientious, upright man,
that cares nothing for boodle, and keeps clear of their in-
trigues, conspiracies, and factions, soon gets his passports.
See that, Mr. Gould? Persona non grata. That’s the reason
our Government is never properly informed. On the other
hand, Europe must be kept out of this continent, and for
proper interference on our part the time is not yet ripe, I
dare say. But we here—we are not this country’s Govern-
ment, neither are we simple souls. Your affair is all right.
The main question for us is whether the second partner, and
that’s you, is the right sort to hold his own against the third
and unwelcome partner, which is one or another of the high
and mighty robber gangs that run the Costaguana Govern-
ment. What do you think, Mr. Gould, eh?’
He bent forward to look steadily into the unflinching
eyes of Charles Gould, who, remembering the large box
full of his father’s letters, put the accumulated scorn and
bitterness of many years into the tone of his answer—
‘As far as the knowledge of these men and their methods
and their politics is concerned, I can answer for myself. I
have been fed on that sort of knowledge since I was a boy.
I am not likely to fall into mistakes from excess of opti-
mism.’
‘Not likely, eh? That’s all right. Tact and a stiff upper

Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard