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 There is no more evanescent quality in an accomplished fact than its wonderfulness. Solicited incessantly by the considerations affecting its fears and desires, the human mind turns naturally away from the marvellous side of events. And it was in the most natural way possible that the doctor asked this man whom, only two minutes before he believed to have been drowned in the gulf:

"You have seen somebody up there? Have you?"

"No, I have not seen him."

"Then how do you know?"

" I was running away from his shadow when we met."

"His shadow?"

"Yes. His shadow in the lighted room," said Nostromo, in a contemptuous tone. Leaning back with folded arms at the foot of the immense building, he dropped his head, biting his lips slightly, and not looking at the doctor. "Now," he thought to himself, "he will begin asking me about the treasure."

But the doctor's thoughts were concerned with an event not as marvellous as Nostromo's reappearance, but in itself much less clear. Why had Sotillo taken himself off, with his whole command, with this suddenness and secrecy? What did this move portend? However, it dawned upon the doctor that the man up-stairs was one of the officers left behind by the disappointed colonel to communicate with him.

"I believe he is waiting for me," he said.

"It is possible."

"I must see. Do not go away yet, capataz."

"Go away, where?" muttered Nostromo.