A Tale of the Seaboard Joseph Conrad - Penn State University

Joseph Conrad
“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.
“Nothing,” answered Decoud, firmly. “But, then, don’t you see,
he’s an Englishman”
“Well, what of that” asked Mrs. Gould.
“Simply that he cannot act or exist without idealizing every simple
feeling, desire, or achievement. He could not believe his own motives
if he did not make them first a part of some fairy tale. The
earth is not quite good enough for him, I fear. Do you excuse my
frankness Besides, whether you excuse it or not, it is part of the
truth of things which hurts the—what do you call them—the
Anglo-Saxon’s susceptibilities, and at the present moment I don’t
feel as if I could treat seriously either his conception of things or—
if you allow me to say so—or yet yours.”
Mrs. Gould gave no sign of being offended. “I suppose Antonia
understands you thoroughly”
“Understands Well, yes. But I am not sure that she approves.
That, however, makes no difference. I am honest enough to tell you
that, Mrs. Gould.”
“Your idea, of course, is separation,” she said.
“Separation, of course,” declared Martin. “Yes; separation of the
whole Occidental Province from the rest of the unquiet body. But
my true idea, the only one I care for, is not to be separated from
Antonia.”
“And that is all” asked Mrs. Gould, without severity.
“Absolutely. I am not deceiving myself about my motives. She won’t
leave Sulaco for my sake, therefore Sulaco must leave the rest of the
Republic to its fate. Nothing could be clearer than that. I like a clearly
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