Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Withoutamoment’spausehegaveventtohisindignationinatorrentofwords.

           “Ah,yes,inmybed,sloop,aha!Iknowthemanwhoputitthere,”hewenton,glaringatOsterman,“andthatmanisaPIP.Sloop!Slimy,disgustingstuff;youheardmesayIdidn’tlikeitwhentheChinkpassedittomeatdinner—andjustforthatreasonyouputitinmybed,andIstickmyfeetintoitwhenIturnin.Funny,isn’tit?Oh,yes,toofunnyforanyuse.I’dlaughalittlelouderifIwasyou.”

           “Well,Buck,”protestedHarran,ashenoticedthehatinAnnixter’shand,“you’renotgoinghomejustfor——”

           Annixterturnedonhimwithashout.

           “I’llgetplumboutofhere,”hetrumpeted.“Iwon’tstayhereanotherminute.”

           Heswungintohiswaistcoatandcoat,scrabblingatthebuttonsintheviolenceofhisemotions.“AndIdon’tknowbutwhatitwillmakemesickagaintogooutinanightlikethis.NO,Iwon’tstay.Somethingsarefunny,andthen,again,therearesomethingsthatarenot.Ah,yes,sloop!Well,that’sallright.Icanbefunny,too,whenyoucometothat.Youdon’tgetacentofmoneyoutofme.Youcandoyourdirtybriberyinyourowndirtyway.Iwon’tcomeintothisschemeatall.Iwashmyhandsofthewholebusiness.It’srottenandit’swild-eyed;it’sdirtfromstarttofinish;andyou’llalllandinState’sprison.Youcancountmeout.”

           “But,Buck,lookhere,youcrazyfool,”criedHarran,“Idon’tknowwhoputthatstuffinyourbed,butI’mnotgoing;toletyougobacktoQuienSabeinarainlikethis.