Короли и капуста
The Shamrock and the Palm
’Tisastatementdemandin’elucidationandapologies.
"’TwasinNewOrleansonemorningaboutthefirstofJune;Iwasstandin’downonthewharf,lookin’aboutattheshipsintheriver.Therewasalittlesteamermooredrightoppositemethatseemedaboutreadytosail.Thefunnelsofitwerethrowin’outsmoke,andagangofroustaboutswerecarryin’aboardapileofboxesthatwasstackeduponthewharf.Theboxeswereabouttwofeetsquare,andsomethin’likefourfeetlong,andtheyseemedtobeprettyheavy.
"Iwalkedover,careless,tothestackofboxes.Isawoneofthemhadbeenbrokeninhandlin’.’Twascuriositymademepulluptheloosetopandlookinside.TheboxwaspackedfullofWinchesterrifles.‘So,so,’saysItomyself;‘somebody’sgettin’atwistontheneutralitylaws.Somebody’saidin’withmunitionsofwar.Iwonderwherethepopgunsaregoin’?’
"Iheardsomebodycough,andIturnedaround.Therestoodalittle,round,fatmanwithabrownfaceandwhiteclothes,afirst-class-lookinglittleman,withafour-karatdiamondonhisfingerandhiseyefullofinterrogationsandrespects.Ijudgedhewasakindofforeigner—maybefromRussiaorJapanorthearchipelagoes.
"‘Hist!’saystheroundman,fullofconcealmentsandconfidences.‘Willtheseñorrespectthediscoverymentshehasmade,thatthemansontheshipshallnotbeacquaint?Theseñorwillbeagentlemanthatshallnotexposeonethingthatbyaccidentoccur.
