There was an air of plotting about that station, but nothing came of it, of course. It was as unreal as everything else - as the philanthropic pretence of the whole concer, as their talk, as their government, as their show of work. The only real feeling was a desire to get appointed to a trading-post where ivory was to be had, so that they could earn percentages.

In this exert, the reader is shown the want of Marlow to be a part of something real; he strives to be a part of something that actually makes a difference. Time was being spent in conversation about things and various speculations were being make; Marlow desired to be part of the topics of the conversing, and actually do something that mattered.