Короли и капуста
Shoes
Keogh,acclimatedbeyondallpossibilityofill-humour,drewhischairtothetablewithsmilingcomplianceonhisrose-pinkcountenance,andbegantoslitopentheletters.FourofthemwerefromcitizensinvariouspartsoftheUnitedStateswhoseemedtoregardtheconsulatCoralioasacyclopædiaofinformation.Theyaskedlonglistsofquestions,numericallyarranged,abouttheclimate,products,possibilities,laws,businesschances,andstatisticsofthecountryinwhichtheconsulhadthehonourofrepresentinghisowngovernment.
"Write’em,please,Billy,"saidthatinertofficial,"justaline,referringthemtothelatestconsularreport.Tell’emtheStateDepartmentwillbedelightedtofurnishtheliterarygems.Signmyname.Don’tletyourpenscratch,Billy;it’llkeepmeawake."
"Don’tsnore,"saidKeogh,amiably,"andI’lldoyourworkforyou.Youneedacorpsofassistants,anyhow.Don’tseehowyouevergetoutareport.Wakeupaminute!—here’sonemoreletter—it’sfromyourowntown,too—Dalesburg."
"Thatso?"murmuredJohnnyshowingamildandobligatoryinterest."What’sitabout?"
"Postmasterwrites,"explainedKeogh."Saysacitizenofthetownwantssomefactsandadvicefromyou.Saysthecitizenhasanideainhisheadofcomingdownwhereyouareandopeningashoestore.Wantstoknowifyouthinkthebusinesswouldpay.Sayshe’sheardoftheboomalongthiscoast,andwantstogetinonthegroundfloor."
