Короли и капуста
The Remnants of the Code
Hiscurtgreetingandtheominouslightinhisfull,greyeyequickenedthestepsof"Beelzebub,"whomdesperationhadalmostincitedtoattemptanadditional"loan."
Threedrinkingshopstheforlornonenextvisitedinsuccession.Inallofthesehismoney,hiscreditandhiswelcomehadlongsincebeenspent;butBlythefeltthathewouldhavefawnedinthedustatthefeetofanenemythatmorningforonedraughtofaguardiente.Intwoofthepulperiashiscourageouspetitionfordrinkwasmetwitharefusalsopolitethatitstungworsethanabuse.ThethirdestablishmenthadacquiredsomethingofAmericanmethods;andherehewasseizedbodilyandcastoutuponhishandsandknees.
Thisphysicalindignitycausedasingularchangeintheman.Ashepickedhimselfupandwalkedaway,anexpressionofabsolutereliefcameuponhisfeatures.Thespeciousandconciliatorysmilethathadbeengraventherewassucceededbyalookofcalmandsinisterresolve."Beelzebub"hadbeenflounderingintheseaofimprobity,holdingbyaslenderlife-linetotherespectableworldthathadcasthimoverboard.Hemusthavefeltthatwiththisultimateshockthelinehadsnapped,andhaveexperiencedthewelcomeeaseofthedrowningswimmerwhohasceasedtostruggle.
Blythewalkedtothenextcornerandstoodtherewhilehebrushedthesandfromhisgarmentsandrepolishedhisglasses.
"I’vegottodoit—oh,I’vegottodoit,"hetoldhimself,aloud."IfIhadaquartofrumIbelieveIcouldstaveitoffyet—foralittlewhile.
