Короли и капуста

           Ratherhelovedtocoaxitwithegregiousandbrilliantfliesfromitshabitatinthewatersofstrangestreams.YetKeoghwasabusinessman;andhisschemes,inspiteoftheirsingularity,wereassolidlysetastheplansofabuildingcontractor.InArthur’stimeSirWilliamKeoghwouldhavebeenaKnightoftheRoundTable.Inthesemoderndaysheridesabroad,seekingtheGraftinsteadoftheGrail.

           ThreedaysafterJohnny’sdeparture,twosmallschoonersappearedoffCoralio.Aftersomedelayaboatputofffromoneofthem,andbroughtasunburnedyoungmanashore.Thisyoungmanhadashrewdandcalculatingeye;andhegazedwithamazementatthestrangethingsthathesaw.Hefoundonthebeachsomeonewhodirectedhimtotheconsul’soffice;andthitherhemadehiswayatanervousgait.

           Keoghwassprawledintheofficialchair,drawingcaricaturesofhisUncle’sheadonanofficialpadofpaper.Helookedupathisvisitor.

           "Where’sJohnnyAtwood?"inquiredthesunburnedyoungman,inabusinesstone.

           "Gone,"saidKeogh,workingcarefullyatUncleSam’snecktie.

           "That’sjustlikehim,"remarkedthenut-brownone,leaningagainstthetable."Healwayswasafellowtogallivantaroundinsteadof‘tendingtobusiness.Willhebeinsoon?"

           "Don’tthinkso,"saidKeogh,afterafairamountofdeliberation.

           "Is’posehe’soutatsomeofhistomfoolery,"conjecturedthevisitor,inatoneofvirtuousconviction."Johnnyneverwouldsticktoanythinglongenoughtosucceed.