Короли и капуста
Shoes
Inspiteoftheheatandhisbadtemper,Johnny’shammockswayedwithhislaughter.Keoghlaughedtoo;andthepetmonkeyonthetopshelfofthebookcasechatteredinshrillsympathywiththeironicalreceptionoftheletterfromDalesburg.
"Greatbunions!"exclaimedtheconsul."Shoestore!What’lltheyaskaboutnext,Iwonder?Overcoatfactory,Ireckon.Say,Billy—ofour3,000citizens,howmanydoyousupposeeverhadonapairofshoes?"
Keoghreflectedjudicially.
"Let’ssee—there’syouandmeand—"
"Notme,"saidJohnny,promptlyandincorrectly,holdingupafootencasedinadisreputabledeerskinzapato."Ihaven’tbeenavictimtoshoesinmonths."
"Butyou’vegot’em,though,"wentonKeogh."Andthere’sGoodwinandBlanchardandGeddieandoldLutzandDocGreggandthatItalianthat’sagentforthebananacompany,andthere’soldDelgado—no;hewearssandals.And,oh,yes;there’sMadamaOrtiz,‘whatkapesthehotel’—shehadonapairofredslippersatthebailetheothernight.AndMissPasa,herdaughter,thatwenttoschoolintheStates—shebroughtbacksomecivilizednotionsinthewayoffootgear.Andthere’sthecomandante’ssisterthatdressesupherfeetonfeast-days—andMrs.Geddie,whowearsatwowithaCastilianinstep—andthat’saboutalltheladies.Let’ssee—don’tsomeofthesoldiersatthecuartel—no:that’sso;they’reallowedshoesonlywhenonthemarch.Inbarrackstheyturntheirlittletoesesouttograss."
