Joseph Conrad: Nostromo

PART THIRD: THE LIGHTHOUSE 9. CHAPTER NINE (continued)

"Could I see Don Carlos?"

"Great heavens! No! Why? What for?" exclaimed the doctor in
agitation. "I tell you it is madness. I will not let you go into
the town for anything."

"I must."

"You must not!" hissed the doctor, fiercely, almost beside
himself with the fear of the man doing away with his usefulness
for an imbecile whim of some sort. "I tell you you shall not. I
would rather----"

He stopped at loss for words, feeling fagged out, powerless,
holding on to Nostromo's sleeve, absolutely for support after his
run.

"I am betrayed!" muttered the Capataz to himself; and the doctor,
who overheard the last word, made an effort to speak calmly.

"That is exactly what would happen to you. You would be
betrayed."

He thought with a sickening dread that the man was so well known
that he could not escape recognition. The house of the Senor
Administrador was beset by spies, no doubt. And even the very
servants of the casa were not to be trusted. "Reflect, Capataz,"
he said, impressively. . . . "What are you laughing at?"

"I am laughing to think that if somebody that did not approve of
my presence in town, for instance--you understand, senor
doctor--if somebody were to give me up to Pedrito, it would not
be beyond my power to make friends even with him. It is true.
What do you think of that?"

"You are a man of infinite resource, Capataz," said Dr. Monygham,
dismally. "I recognize that. But the town is full of talk about
you; and those few Cargadores that are not in hiding with the
railway people have been shouting 'Viva Montero' on the Plaza all
day."

"My poor Cargadores!" muttered Nostromo. "Betrayed! Betrayed!"