Короли и капуста
Money Maze
Bysomemysteriousmeanshekepthisdrink-reddenedfacealwayssmoothlyshaven.Fortheresthespongedgracefullyuponwhomsoeverhecouldforenoughtokeephimprettydrunk,andshelteredfromtherainsandnightdews.
"Hallo,Goodwin!"calledthederelict,airily."IwashopingI’dstrikeyou.Iwantedtoseeyouparticularly.Supposewegowherewecantalk.Ofcourseyouknowthere’sachapdownherelookingupthemoneyoldMirafloreslost."
"Yes,"saidGoodwin,"I’vebeentalkingwithhim.Let’sgointoEspada’splace.Icanspareyoutenminutes."
Theywentintothepulperiaandsatatalittletableuponstoolswithrawhidetops.
"Haveadrink?"saidGoodwin.
"Theycan’tbringittooquickly,"saidBlythe."I’vebeeninadroughteversincemorning.Hi—muchacho!—elaguardienteporacá."
"Now,whatdoyouwanttoseemeabout?"askedGoodwin,whenthedrinkswerebeforethem.
"Confoundit,oldman,"drawledBlythe,"whydoyouspoilagoldenmomentlikethiswithbusiness?Iwantedtoseeyou—well,thishasthepreference."Hegulpeddownhisbrandy,andgazedlonginglyintotheemptyglass.
"Haveanother?"suggestedGoodwin.
"Betweengentlemen,"saidthefallenangel,"Idon’tquitelikeyouruseofthatword‘another.’Itisn’tquitedelicate.Buttheconcreteideathatthewordrepresentsisnotdispleasing."
Theglasseswererefilled.Blythesippedblissfullyfromhis,ashebegantoenterthestateofatrueidealist.
"Imusttrotalonginaminuteortwo,"hintedGoodwin
