Короли и капуста
Two Recalls
"Theoldboylookedprettybughousewhenshefirstgrappledhim,butshewenton,whisperinginhisearandpattinghisoffshouldertillhestoodstill,butsweatingalittle.
"Shegothimtoonesideandtheytalkedtogetheraminute,andthenheputonsomegoldeyeglassesandwalkedupandhandedmethegrip.
"‘Mr.Detective,’hesays,talkingalittlebroken,‘Iconcludetoreturnwithyou.Ihavefinishedtodiscoverthatlifeonthisdesolateanddispleasedcoastwouldbeworsethantodie,itself.IwillgobackandhurlmyselfuponthemercyoftheRepublicCompany.Haveyoubroughtasheep?’
"‘Sheep!’saysI;‘Ihaven’tasingle—’
"‘Ship,’cutintheyounglady.‘Don’tgetfunny.FatherisofGermanbirth,anddoesn’tspeakperfectEnglish.Howdidyoucome?’
"Thegirlwasallbrokeup.Shehadahandkerchieftoherface,andkeptsayingeverylittlebit,‘Oh,father,father!’Shewalkeduptomeandlaidherlily-whitehandontheclothesthathadpainedheratfirst.Ismeltamillionviolets.Shewasalulu.ItoldherIcameinaprivateyacht.
"‘Mr.O’Day,’shesays.‘Oh,takeusawayfromthishorridcountryatonce.Canyou!Willyou!Sayyouwill.’
"‘I’lltry,’Isaid,concealingthefactthatIwasdyingtogetthemonsaltwaterbeforetheycouldchangetheirmind.
"Onethingtheybothkickedagainstwasgoingthroughthetowntotheboatlanding.Saidtheydreadedpublicity,andnowthattheyweregoingtoreturn,theyhadahopethatthethingmightyetbekeptoutofthepapers.