Короли и капуста
The Lotus and the Bottle
Tolliver’srealestateandbonds,cameadescriptionoftheyacht’sfurnishings,andthenthegrainofnewsnobiggerthanamustardseed.Mr.Tolliver,withapartyoffavouredguests,wouldsailthenextdayonasixweeks’cruisealongtheCentralAmericanandSouthAmericancoastsandamongtheBahamaIslands.AmongtheguestswereMrs.CumberlandPayneandMissIdaPayne,ofNorfolk.
Thewriter,withthefatuouspresumptionthatwasdemandedofhimbyhisreaders,hadconcoctedaromancesuitedtotheirpalates.HebracketedthenamesofMissPayneandMr.Tolliveruntilhehadwell-nighreadthemarriageceremonyoverthem.Heplayedcoylyandinsinuatinglyuponthestringsof"ondit"and"MadameRumour"and"alittlebird"and"noonewouldbesurprised,"andendedwithcongratulations.
Geddie,havingfinishedhisbreakfast,tookhispaperstotheedgeofthegallery,andsatthereinhisfavouritesteamerchairwithhisfeetonthebamboorailing.Helightedacigar,andlookedoutuponthesea.Hefeltaglowofsatisfactionatfindinghewassolittledisturbedbywhathehadread.Hetoldhimselfthathehadconqueredthedistressthathadsenthim,avoluntaryexile,tothisfarlandofthelotus.HecouldneverforgetIda,ofcourse;buttherewasnolongeranypaininthinkingabouther.Whentheyhadhadthatmisunderstandingandquarrelhehadimpulsivelysoughtthisconsulship,withthedesiretoretaliateuponherbydetachinghimselffromherworldandpresence.Hehadsucceededthoroughlyinthat.
