Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard
baptizing, confessing, absolving, and burying the workers of the San Tomé mine with dignity and unction for five years or more; and he believed in the sacredness of these ministrations, which made them his own in a spiritual sense. They were dear to his sacerdotal supremacy. Mrs. Gould's earnest interest in the concerns of these people enhanced their importance in the priest's eyes, because it really augmented his own. When talking over with her the innumerable Marias and Brigidas of the villages, he felt his own humanity expand. Padre Romàn was incapable of fanaticism to an almost reprehensible degree. The English señora was evidently a heretic; but at the same time she seemed to him wonderful and angelic. Whenever that confused state of his feelings occurred to him, while strolling, for instance, his breviary under his arm, in the wide shade of the tamarind, he would stop short to inhale, with a strong snuffling noise, a large quantity of snuff, and shake his head profoundly. At the thought of what might befall the illustrious señora presently he became gradually overcome with dismay. He voiced it in an agitated murmur. Even Don Pépé lost his serenity for a moment. He leaned forward stiffly.
"Listen, padre. The very fact that those thieving macaques in Sulaco are trying to find out the price of my honor proves that Señor Don Carlos and all in the Casa Gould are safe. As to my honor, that also is safe, as every man, woman, and child knows. But the negro Liberals who have snatched the town by surprise do not know that. Bueno! Let them sit and wait. While they wait they can do no harm."
444
