Conrad, Un avant-poste du progrès 1 (trad. éd. Quarto) :
"Leur prédécesseur avait laissé quelques livres dépenaillés. Ils ramassèrent ces épaves de romans, et n'ayant encore jamais rien lu de ce genre, ils en furent surpris et amusés. Et ce furent, durant de longs jours, d'interminables discussions à propos de l'intrigue et des personnages. Au centre de l'Afrique, ils firent la connaissance de Richelieu et de d'Artagnan, d'Oeil-de-Faucon et du père Goriot et de beaucoup d'autres gens. Tous ces personnages imaginaires leur devinrent des sujets de conversation comme s'ils eussent été des amis véritables. Ils suspectaient leurs vertus, discutaient leurs intentions, dénigraient leurs succès, se scandalisaient de leur duplicité ou doutaient de leur courage. Le récit des crimes les remplissait d'indignation, tandis que les passages tendres et pathétiques les remuaient profondément. Carlier, se raclant la gorge, disait d'un ton militaire : "En voilà des bêtises !". Kayerts, ses grosses joues tremblotantes, les larmes aux yeux, passait la main sur son crâne chauve et déclarait : "C'est un livre magnifique. Je ne pensais pas qu'il existait des gens avec autant de talent au monde."
Their predecessor had left some torn books. They took up these wrecks of novels, and, as they had never read anything of the kind before, they were surprised and amused. Then during long days there were interminable and silly discussions about plots and personages. In the centre of Africa they made acquaintance of Richelieu and of d'Artagnan, of Hawk's Eye and of Father Goriot, and of many other people. All these imaginary personages became subjects for gossip as if they had been living friends. They discounted their virtues, suspected their motives, decried their successes; were scandalized at their duplicity or were doubtful about their courage. The accounts of crimes filled them with indignation, while tender or pathetic passages moved them deeply. Carlier cleared his throat and said in a soldierly voice, "What nonsense !" Kayerts, his round eyes suffused with tears, his fat cheeks quivering, rubbed his bald head, and declared. "This is a splendid book. I had no idea there were such clever fellows in the world."