Joseph Conrad: Nostromo

PART SECOND: THE ISABELS 6. CHAPTER SIX (continued)

She made a sort of discouraged protest with her arm, as if to
express that she had given up expecting that motive from any one.

"A Sulaco revolution," Decoud pursued in a forcible undertone.
"The Great Cause may be served here, on the very spot of its
inception, in the place of its birth, Mrs. Gould."

Frowning, and biting her lower lip thoughtfully, she made a step
away from the door.

"You are not going to speak to your husband?" Decoud arrested her
anxiously.

"But you will need his help?"

"No doubt," Decoud admitted without hesitation. "Everything
turns upon the San Tome mine, but I would rather he didn't know
anything as yet of my--my hopes."

A puzzled look came upon Mrs. Gould's face, and Decoud,
approaching, explained confidentially--

"Don't you see, he's such an idealist."

Mrs. Gould flushed pink, and her eyes grew darker at the same
time.

"Charley an idealist!" she said, as if to herself, wonderingly.
"What on earth do you mean?"

"Yes," conceded Decoud, "it's a wonderful thing to say with the
sight of the San Tome mine, the greatest fact in the whole of
South America, perhaps, before our very eyes. But look even at
that, he has idealized this fact to a point--" He paused. "Mrs.
Gould, are you aware to what point he has idealized the
existence, the worth, the meaning of the San Tome mine? Are you
aware of it?"

He must have known what he was talking about.

The effect he expected was produced. Mrs. Gould, ready to take
fire, gave it up suddenly with a low little sound that resembled
a moan.

"What do you know?" she asked in a feeble voice.