Короли и капуста

           Theboyshavealllaidinenoughfootweartolast’emtenyears;andthere’snothingdoingintheshoestorebutdolcyfarnienty.Ijustcamebythere.Yourvenerablevictimwasstandinginthedoor,gazingthroughhisspecsatthebaretoespassingbyhisemporium.Thenativesherehavegotthetrueartistictemperament.MeandClancytookeighteentintypesthismorningintwohours.There’sbeenbutonepairofshoessoldallday.Blanchardwentinandboughtapairoffur-linedhouse-slippersbecausehethoughthesawMissHemstettergointothestore.Isawhimthrowtheslippersintothelagoonafterwards."

           "There’saMobilefruitsteamercomingintomorrowornextday,"saidJohnny."Wecan’tdoanythinguntilthen."

           "Whatareyougoingtodo—trytocreateademand?"

           "Politicaleconomyisn’tyourstrongpoint,"saidtheconsul,impudently."Youcan’tcreateademand.Butyoucancreateanecessityforademand.That’swhatIamgoingtodo."

           Twoweeksaftertheconsulsenthiscable,afruitsteamerbroughthimahuge,mysteriousbrownbaleofsomeunknowncommodity.Johnny’sinfluencewiththecustom-housepeoplewassufficientlystrongforhimtogetthegoodsturnedovertohimwithouttheusualinspection.Hehadthebaletakentotheconsulateandsnuglystowedinthebackroom.

           Thatnightherippedopenacornerofitandtookoutahandfulofthecockleburrs.Heexaminedthemwiththecarewithwhichawarriorexamineshisarmsbeforehegoesforthtobattleforhislady-loveandlife.