Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Cedarquistdiscussedanovel—astrangeminglingofpsychology,degeneracy,andanalysisoferoticconditions—whichhadjustbeentranslatedfromtheItalian.StephenLambertandBeatricedisputedoverthemeritsofaScotchcolliejustgiventotheyounglady.Thescenewasgay,theelectricbulbssparkled,thewineflashingbackthelight.Theentiretablewasavagueglowofwhitenapery,delicatechina,andglassasbrilliantascrystal.Behindthegueststheserving-mencameandwent,fillingtheglassescontinually,changingthecovers,servingtheentrees,managingthedinnerwithoutinterruption,confusion,ortheslightestunnecessarynoise.

           ButPresleycouldfindnoenjoymentintheoccasion.Fromthatpictureoffeasting,thatsceneofluxury,thatatmosphereofdecorous,well-bredrefinement,histhoughtswentbacktoLosMuertosandQuienSabeandtheirrigatingditchatHooven’s.Hesawthemfall,onebyone,Harran,Annixter,Osterman,Broderson,Hooven.Theclinkofthewineglasseswasdrownedintheexplosionofrevolvers.TheRailroadmightindeedbeaforceonly,whichnomancouldcontrolandforwhichnomanwasresponsible,buthisfriendshadbeenkilled,butyearsofextortionandoppressionhadwrungmoneyfromalltheSanJoaquin,moneythathadmadepossiblethisverysceneinwhichhefoundhimself.BecauseMagnushadbeenbeggared,GerardhadbecomeRailroadKing;becausethefarmersofthevalleywerepoor,thesemenwererich.

           Thefancygrewbiginhismind,distorted,caricatured,terrible.