Короли и капуста

           Threedaysnow—"

           Dickycaughtafaintgleamofsteelfromthefoldsofhermantilla.Foronceshelookedinhisfaceandsawitwithoutasmile,stern,menacingandpurposeful.Thenhesuddenlyraisedhishandandhissmilecamebacklikeagleamofsunshine.Thehoarsesignalofanincomingsteamer’ssirensoundedintheharbour.Dickycalledtothesentrywhowaspacingbeforethedoor:"Whatsteamercomes?"

           "TheCatarina."

           "OftheVesuviusline?"

           "Withoutdoubt,ofthatline."

           "Goyou,picarilla,"saidDickyjoyouslytoPasa,"totheAmericanconsul.TellhimIwishtospeakwithhim.Seethathecomesatonce.Andlookyou!letmeseeadifferentlookinthoseeyes,forIpromiseyourheadshallrestuponthisarmto-night."

           Itwasanhourbeforetheconsulcame.Heheldhisgreenumbrellaunderhisarm,andmoppedhisforeheadimpatiently.

           "Now,seehere,Maloney,"hebegan,captiously,"youfellowsseemtothinkyoucancutupanykindofrow,andexpectmetopullyououtofit.I’mneithertheWarDepartmentnoragoldmine.Thiscountryhasitslaws,youknow,andthere’soneagainstpoundingthesensesoutoftheregulararmy.YouIrishareforevergettingintotrouble.Idon’tseewhatIcando.Anythingliketobacco,now,tomakeyoucomfortable—ornewspapers—"

           "SonofEli,"interruptedDicky,gravely,"youhaven’tchangedaniota.ThatisalmostaduplicateofthespeechyoumadewhenoldKoen’sdonkeysandgeesegotintothechapelloft,andtheculpritswantedtohideinyourroom."