Короли и капуста
Shoes
HemstetterandRosinewereatonceconductedandlefttorecuperatefromthefatigueofthevoyage,whileJohnnywentdowntoseethatthecasesofshoesweresafelystoredinthecustomswarehousependingtheirexaminationbytheofficials.Keogh,grinninglikeashark,skirmishedabouttofindGoodwin,toinstructhimnottoexposetoMr.HemstetterthetruestateofCoralioasashoemarketuntilJohnnyhadbeengivenachancetoredeemthesituation,ifsuchathingwerepossible.
ThatnighttheconsulandKeoghheldadesperateconsultationonthebreezyporchoftheconsulate.
"Send’embackhome,"beganKeogh,readingJohnny’sthoughts.
"Iwould,"saidJohnny,afteralittlesilence;"butI’vebeenlyingtoyou,Billy."
"Allrightaboutthat,"saidKeogh,affably.
"I’vetoldyouhundredsoftimes,"saidJohnny,slowly,"thatIhadforgottenthatgirl,haven’tI?"
"Aboutthreehundredandseventy-five,"admittedthemonumentofpatience.
"Ilied,"repeatedtheconsul,"everytime.Ineverforgotherforoneminute.Iwasanobstinateassforrunningawayjustbecauseshesaid‘No’once.AndIwastooproudafooltogoback.ItalkedwithRosineafewminutesthiseveningupatGoodwin’s.Ifoundoutonething.Yourememberthatfarmerfellowwhowasalwaysafterher?"
"DinkPawson?"askedKeogh.
"PinkDawson.Well,hewasn’tahillofbeanstoher.Shesaysshedidn’tbelieveawordofthethingshetoldheraboutme.ButI’msewedupnow,Billy.