Joseph Conrad: Nostromo

PART THIRD: THE LIGHTHOUSE 3. CHAPTER THREE (continued)

"Ah! senor doctor," said Sotillo, wagging his head, "you are a
man of quick intelligence. We were made to understand each
other." He turned away. He could bear no longer that
expressionless and motionless stare, which seemed to have a sort
of impenetrable emptiness like the black depth of an abyss.

Even in a man utterly devoid of moral sense there remains an
appreciation of rascality which, being conventional, is perfectly
clear. Sotillo thought that Dr. Monygham, so different from all
Europeans, was ready to sell his countrymen and Charles Gould,
his employer, for some share of the San Tome silver. Sotillo did
not despise him for that. The colonel's want of moral sense was
of a profound and innocent character. It bordered upon stupidity,
moral stupidity. Nothing that served his ends could appear to him
really reprehensible. Nevertheless, he despised Dr. Monygham.
He had for him an immense and satisfactory contempt. He despised
him with all his heart because he did not mean to let the doctor
have any reward at all. He despised him, not as a man without
faith and honour, but as a fool. Dr. Monygham's insight into his
character had deceived Sotillo completely. Therefore he thought
the doctor a fool.

Since his arrival in Sulaco the colonel's ideas had undergone
some modification.

He no longer wished for a political career in Montero's
administration. He had always doubted the safety of that course.
Since he had learned from the chief engineer that at daylight
most likely he would be confronted by Pedro Montero his
misgivings on that point had considerably increased. The
guerrillero brother of the general--the Pedrito of popular
speech--had a reputation of his own. He wasn't safe to deal with.
Sotillo had vaguely planned seizing not only the treasure but the
town itself, and then negotiating at leisure. But in the face of
facts learned from the chief engineer (who had frankly disclosed
to him the whole situation) his audacity, never of a very dashing
kind, had been replaced by a most cautious hesitation.

"An army--an army crossed the mountains under Pedrito already,"
he had repeated, unable to hide his consternation. "If it had not
been that I am given the news by a man of your position I would
never have believed it. Astonishing!"