Короли и капуста
Shoes
Thebeachwaslinedwithspectatorswhilethequarantinedoctorandthecustom-housecrewrowedouttoattendtotheirduties.
AnhourlaterBillyKeoghloungedintotheconsulate,cleanandcoolinhislinenclothes,andgrinninglikeapleasedshark.
"Guesswhat?"hesaidtoJohnny,lounginginhishammock.
"Toohottoguess,"saidJohnny,lazily.
"Yourshoe-storeman’scome,"saidKeogh,rollingthesweetmorselonhistongue,"withastockofgoodsbigenoughtosupplythecontinentasfardownasTerradelFuego.They’recartinghiscasesovertothecustom-housenow.Sixbargesfulltheybroughtashoreandhavepaddledbackfortherest.Oh,yesaintsinglory!won’tthereberegalementsintheairwhenhegetsontothejokeandhasaninterviewwithMr.Consul?It’llbeworthnineyearsinthetropicsjusttowitnessthatonejoyfulmoment."
Keoghlovedtotakehismirtheasily.Heselectedacleanplaceonthemattingandlayuponthefloor.Thewallsshookwithhisenjoyment.Johnnyturnedhalfoverandblinked.
"Don’ttellme,"hesaid,"thatanybodywasfoolenoughtotakethatletterseriously."
"Four-thousand-dollarstockofgoods!"gaspedKeogh,inecstasy."TalkaboutcoalstoNewcastle!Whydidn’thetakeaship-loadofpalm-leaffanstoSpitzbergenwhilehewasaboutit?Sawtheoldcodgeronthebeach.Yououghttohavebeentherewhenheputonhisspecsandsquintedatthefivehundredorsobarefootedcitizensstandingaround."
"Areyoutellingthetruth,Billy?"askedtheconsul,weakly.
