Joseph Conrad: Nostromo

PART THIRD: THE LIGHTHOUSE 7. CHAPTER SEVEN (continued)

"Neither was I," confessed Charles Gould, laying his hat on the
table.

"You will have to take action."

The silence of Charles Gould seemed to admit that this was the
only course. This was as far as Charles Gould was accustomed to
go towards expressing his intentions.

"I hope you did not warn Montero of what you mean to do," the
doctor said, anxiously.

"I tried to make him see that the existence of the mine was bound
up with my personal safety," continued Charles Gould, looking
away from the doctor, and fixing his eyes upon the water-colour
sketch upon the wall.

"He believed you?" the doctor asked, eagerly.

"God knows!" said Charles Gould. "I owed it to my wife to say
that much. He is well enough informed. He knows that I have Don
Pepe there. Fuentes must have told him. They know that the old
major is perfectly capable of blowing up the San Tome mine
without hesitation or compunction. Had it not been for that I
don't think I'd have left the Intendencia a free man. He would
blow everything up from loyalty and from hate--from hate of these
Liberals, as they call themselves. Liberals! The words one knows
so well have a nightmarish meaning in this country. Liberty,
democracy, patriotism, government--all of them have a flavour of
folly and murder. Haven't they, doctor? . . . I alone can
restrain Don Pepe. If they were to--to do away with me, nothing
could prevent him."

"They will try to tamper with him," the doctor suggested,
thoughtfully.

"It is very possible," Charles Gould said very low, as if
speaking to himself, and still gazing at the sketch of the San
Tome gorge upon the wall. "Yes, I expect they will try that."
Charles Gould looked for the first time at the doctor. "It would
give me time," he added.

"Exactly," said Dr. Monygham, suppressing his excitement.
"Especially if Don Pepe behaves diplomatically. Why shouldn't he
give them some hope of success? Eh? Otherwise you wouldn't gain
so much time. Couldn't he be instructed to--"