Короли и капуста

           TheVesuviusCompanyhadinvestedlargesumsinwharvesandplantationsalongtheAnchuriancoast,theiragentshaderectedfinehomesinthetownswheretheyhadtheirheadquarters,andheretoforehadworkedwiththerepublicingood-willandwithadvantagetoboth.Itwouldloseanimmensesumifcompelledtomoveout.ThesellingpriceofbananasfromVeraCruztoTrinidadwasthreerealsperbunch.ThisnewdutyofonerealwouldhaveruinedthefruitgrowersinAnchuriaandhaveseriouslydiscommodedtheVesuviusCompanyhaditdeclinedtopayit.Butforsomereason,theVesuviuscontinuedtobuyAnchurianfruit,payingfourrealsforit;andnotsufferingthegrowerstobeartheloss.

           ThisapparentvictorydeceivedHisExcellency;andhebegantohungerformoreofit.Hesentanemissarytorequestaconferencewitharepresentativeofthefruitcompany.TheVesuviussentMr.Franzoni,alittle,stout,cheerfulman,alwayscool,andwhistlingairsfromVerdi’soperas.SeñorEspirition,oftheofficeoftheMinisterofFinance,attemptedthesandbagginginbehalfofAnchuria.ThemeetingtookplaceinthecabinoftheSalvador,oftheVesuviusline.

           SeñorEspiritionopenednegotiationsbyannouncingthatthegovernmentcontemplatedthebuildingofarailroadtoskirtthealluvialcoastlands.AftertouchinguponthebenefitssucharoadwouldconferupontheinterestsoftheVesuvius,hereachedthedefinitesuggestionthatacontributiontotheroad’sexpensesof,say,fiftythousandpesoswouldnotbemorethananequivalenttobenefitsreceived.

           Mr.