Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Themeneasedthemselvesintheirplaces,pushingbackfromthetable,lightingtheircigars,talkingofthebeginningoftherainsandtheprospectsofariseinwheat.Brodersonbegananelaboratementalcalculation,tryingtosettleinhismindtheexactdateofhisvisittoUkiah,andOstermandidsleight-of-handtrickswithbreadpills.ButPrincessNathalie,thecat,wasuneasy.Annixterwasoccupyingherownparticularchairinwhichsheslepteverynight.Shecouldnotgotosleep,butspieduponhimcontinually,watchinghiseverymovementwithherlambent,yelloweyes,clearasamber.

           Then,atlength,Magnus,whowasattheheadofthetable,movedinhisplace,assumingacertainmagisterialattitude.“Well,gentlemen,”heobserved,“Ihavelostmycaseagainsttherailroad,thegrain-ratecase.Ulsteendecidedagainstme,andnowIhearrumourstotheeffectthatratesforthehaulingofgrainaretobeadvanced.”

           WhenMagnushadfinished,therewasamoment’ssilence,eachmemberofthegroupmaintaininghisattitudeofattentionandinterest.ItwasHarranwhofirstspoke.

           “S.Behrmanmanipulatedthewholeaffair.There’sabigdealofsomekindintheair,andifthereis,weallknowwhoisbackofit;S.Behrman,ofcourse,butwho’sbackofhim?It’sShelgrim.”

           Shelgrim!Thenamefellsquarelyinthemidstoftheconversation,abrupt,grave,sombre,bigwithsuggestion,pregnantwithhugeassociations.