Копи царя Соломона
Solomon’s Road
"Howisit,Ostrangers,"askedtheoldmansolemnly,"thatthisfatman(pointingtoGood,whowascladinnothingbutbootsandaflannelshirt,andhadonlyhalffinishedhisshaving), whosebodyisclothed,andwhoselegsarebare,whogrowshairononesideofhissicklyfaceandnotontheother,andwhowearsoneshiningandtransparenteye —howisit,Iask,thathehasteethwhichmoveofthemselves,comingawayfromthejawsandreturningoftheirownwill?"
"Openyourmouth,"IsaidtoGood, whopromptlycurleduphislipsandgrinnedattheoldgentlemanlikeanangrydog,revealingtohisastonishedgazetwothinredlinesofgumasutterlyinnocentofivoriesasanew-bornelephant. Theaudiencegasped.
"Wherearehisteeth?"theyshouted;"withoureyeswesawthem."
Turninghisheadslowlyandwithagestureofineffablecontempt,Goodswepthishandacrosshismouth. Thenhegrinnedagain,andlo,thereweretworowsoflovelyteeth.
Nowtheyoungmanwhohadflungtheknifethrewhimselfdownonthegrassandgaveventtoaprolongedhowlofterror; andasfortheoldgentleman,hiskneesknockedtogetherwithfear.
"Iseethatyearespirits,"hesaidfalteringly;"didevermanbornofwomanhavehairononesideofhisfaceandnotontheother,oraroundandtransparenteye,orteethwhichmovedandmeltedawayandgrewagain? Pardonus,Omylords."
