Короли и капуста
The Admiral
Heownednoboat,butworkedamongthecrewsoftheschoonersandsloopsthatskimmedthecoast,tradingandfreightingfruitouttothesteamerswheretherewasnoharbour.Itwasthroughhisfamousskillandboldnessonthesea,aswellasforthepityfeltforhismentalimperfections,thathewasrecommendedbythecollectorasasuitablecustodianofthecapturedsloop.
WhentheoutcomeofDonSabas’littlepleasantryarrivedintheformoftheimposingandpreposterouscommission,thecollectorsmiled.Hehadnotexpectedsuchpromptandoverwhelmingresponsetohisrecommendation.Hedespatchedamuchachoatoncetofetchthefutureadmiral.
Thecollectorwaitedinhisofficialquarters.HisofficewasintheCalleGrande,andtheseabreezeshummedthroughitswindowsallday.Thecollector,inwhitelinenandcanvasshoes,philanderedwithpapersonanantiquedesk.Aparrot,perchedonapenrack,seasonedtheofficialtediumwithafireofchoiceCastilianimprecations.Tworoomsopenedintothecollector’s.Inonetheclericalforceofyoungmenofvariegatedcomplexionstransactedwithglitterandparadetheirseveralduties.Throughtheopendooroftheotherroomcouldbeseenabronzebabe,guiltlessofclothing,thatrollickeduponthefloor.Inagrasshammockathinwoman,tintedapalelemon,playedaguitarandswungcontentedlyinthebreeze.
