Короли и капуста

           "Friendsandbrothers,"GeneralPilarwassaying,"couldIreachoutmyhandthisdayacrossthelamentablesilenceofthegravetoOlivarra‘theGood,’totherulerwhowasoneofyou,whosetearsfellwhenyousorrowed,andwhosesmilefollowedyourjoy—Iwouldbringhimbacktoyou,but—Olivarraisdead—deadatthehandsofacravenassassin!"

           Thespeakerturnedandgazedboldlyintothecarriageofthepresident.Hisarmremainedextendedaloftasiftosustainhisperoration.Thepresidentwaslistening,aghast,atthisremarkableaddressofwelcome.Hewassunkbackuponhisseat,tremblingwithrageanddumbsurprise,hisdarkhandstightlygrippingthecarriagecushions.

           Halfrising,heextendedonearmtowardthespeaker,andshoutedaharshcommandatCaptainCruz.Theleaderofthe"FlyingHundred"sathishorse,immovable,withfoldedarms,givingnosignofhavingheard.Losadasankbackagain,hisdarkfeaturesdistinctlypaling.

           "WhosaysthatOlivarraisdead?"suddenlycriedthespeaker,hisvoice,oldashewas,soundinglikeabattletrumpet."Hisbodyliesinthegrave,buttothepeoplehelovedhehasbequeathedhisspirit—yes,more—hislearning,hiscourage,hiskindness—yes,more—hisyouth,hisimage—peopleofAnchuria,haveyouforgottenRamon,thesonofOlivarra?"

           CroninandVincenti,watchingclosely,sawDickyMaloneysuddenlyraisehishat,tearoffhisshockofredhair,leapupthestepsandstandatthesideofGeneralPilar.TheMinisterofWarlaidhisarmacrosstheyoungman’sshoulders.