Короли и капуста
The Remnants of the Code
Madamawasserving;sheturnedhershy,stolid,melancholygazeforamomentoutthewindow;shesawBlythe,andherexpressionturnedmoreshyandembarrassed."Beelzebub"owedhertwentypesos.Hebowedashehadoncebowedtolessembarrasseddamestowhomheowednothing,andpassedon.
Merchantsandtheirclerkswerethrowingopenthesolidwoodendoorsoftheirshops.PolitebutcoolweretheglancestheycastuponBlytheasheloungedtentativelybywiththeremainsofhisoldjauntyair;fortheywerehiscreditorsalmostwithoutexception.
Atthelittlefountainintheplazahemadeanapologyforatoiletwithhiswettedhandkerchief.Acrosstheopensquarefiledthedolorouslineoffriendsoftheprisonersinthecalaboza,bearingthemorningmealoftheimmured.ThefoodintheirhandsarousedsmalllonginginBlythe.Itwasdrinkthathissoulcraved,ormoneytobuyit.
Inthestreetshemetmanywithwhomhehadbeenfriendsandequals,andwhosepatienceandliberalityhehadgraduallyexhausted.WillardGeddieandPaulacanteredpasthimwiththecoolestofnods,returningfromtheirdailyhorsebackridealongtheoldIndianroad.Keoghpassedhimatanothercorner,whistlingcheerfullyandbearingaprizeofnewly-laideggsforthebreakfastofhimselfandClancy.ThejovialscoutofFortunewasoneofBlythe’svictimswhohadplungedhishandoftenestintohispockettoaidhim.ButnowitseemedthatKeogh,too,hadfortifiedhimselfagainstfurtherinvasions.
