Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter I
AndDeLaCuestasentahorseforthegirltoride,white,purewhite;andthesaddlewasofredleather;thehead-stall,thebit,andbuckles,allthemetalwork,ofvirginsilver.Well,therewasaceremonyintheMontereyMission,andEsteban,inthenameofhisbrother,wasmarriedtothegirl.Onourwayback,DeLaCuestarodeouttomeetus.HiscompanymetoursatAgathadosPalos.NeverwillIforgetDeLaCuesta’sfaceashiseyesfelluponthegirl.Itwasalook,aglance,comeandgonelikeTHAT,”hesnappedhisfingers.“NoonebutIsawit,butIwascloseby.Therewasnomistakingthatlook.DeLaCuestawasdisappointed.”
“Andthegirl?”demandedPresley.
“Sheneverknew.Ah,hewasagrandgentleman,DeLaCuesta.Alwayshetreatedherasaqueen.Neverwashusbandmoredevoted,morerespectful,morechivalrous.Butlove?”Theoldfellowputhischinintheair,shuttinghiseyesinaknowingfashion.“Itwasnotthere.Icouldtell.TheyweremarriedoveragainattheMissionSanJuandeGuadalajara—OURMission—andforaweekallthetownofGuadalajarawasinfete.Therewerebull-fightsinthePlaza—thisveryone—forfivedays,andtoeachofhistenants-in-chief,DeLaCuestagaveahorse,abarreloftallow,anounceofsilver,andhalfanounceofgolddust.Ah,thoseweredays.Thatwasagaylife.This”—hemadeacomprehensivegesturewithhislefthand—“thisisstupid.”
“Youmaywellsaythat,”observedPresleymoodily,discouragedbytheother’stalk.Allhisdoubtsanduncertaintyhadreturnedtohim.
