 tied up to sticks - por Dios. That is what
should be done. Only -«
    His folded hands twitched on the hilt. The cigar turned faster in the corner
of his lips.
    »And who should lead but I? Unfortunately - observe - I have given my word
of honour to Don Carlos not to let the mine fall into the hands of these
thieves. In war - you know this, Padre - the fate of battles is uncertain, and
whom could I leave here to act for me in case of defeat? The explosives are
ready. But it would require a man of high honour, of intelligence, of judgment,
of courage, to carry out the prepared destruction. Somebody I can trust with my
honour as I can trust myself. Another old officer of Paez, for instance. Or - or
- perhaps one of Paez's old chaplains would do.«
    He got up, long, lank, upright, hard, with his martial moustache and the
bony structure of his face, from which the glance of the sunken eyes seemed to
transfix the priest, who stood still, an empty wooden snuff-box held upside down
in his hand, and glared back, speechless, at the governor of the mine.
 

                                 Chapter Seven

At about that time, in the Intendencia of Sulaco, Charles Gould was assuring
Pedrito Montero, who had sent a request for his presence there, that he would
never let the mine pass out of his hands for the profit of a Government who had
robbed him of it. The Gould Concession could not be resumed. His father had not
desired it. The son would never surrender it. He would never surrender it alive.
And once dead, where was the power capable of resuscitating such an enterprise
in all its vigour and wealth out of the ashes and ruin of destruction? There was
no such power in the country. And where was the skill and capital abroad that
would condescend to touch such an ill-omened corpse? Charles Gould talked in the
impassive tone which had for many years served to conceal his anger and
contempt. He suffered. He was disgusted with what he had to say. It was too much
like heroics. In him the strictly practical instinct was in profound discord
with the almost mystic view he took of his right. The Gould Concession was
symbolic of abstract justice. Let the heavens fall. But since the San Tomé mine
had developed into world-wide fame his threat had enough force and effectiveness
to reach the rudimentary intelligence of Pedro Montero, wrapped up as it was in
the futilities of historical anecdotes. The Gould
