Короли и капуста

           Twoorthreeofthefreightersloopswereengagedtoassistinthework,forthecaptainwasanxioustomakeaquickreturninordertoreaptheadvantageofferedbyacertaindearthoffruitintheStates.

           Aboutfouro’clockintheafternoonanotherofthosemarinemonsters,notveryfamiliarinthosewaters,hoveinsight,followingthefatefulIdalia—agracefulsteamyacht,paintedalightbuff,clean-cutasasteelengraving.Thebeautifulvesselhoveredoffshore,see-sawingthewavesaslightlyasaduckinarainbarrel.Aswiftboatmannedbyacrewinuniformcameashore,andastocky-builtmanleapedtothesands.

           Thenew-comerseemedtoturnadisapprovingeyeupontherathermotleycongregationofnativeAnchurians,andmadehiswayatoncetowardGoodwin,whowasthemostconspicuouslyAnglo–Saxonfigurepresent.Goodwingreetedhimwithcourtesy.

           ConversationdevelopedthatthenewlylandedonewasnamedSmith,andthathehadcomeinayacht.Ameagrebiography,truly;fortheyachtwasmostapparent;andthe"Smith"notbeyondareasonableguessbeforetherevelation.YettotheeyeofGoodwin,whohadseenseveralthings,therewasadiscrepancybetweenSmithandhisyacht.Abullet-headedmanSmithwas,withanoblique,deadeyeandthemoustacheofacocktail-mixer.Andunlesshehadshiftedcostumesbeforeputtingoffforshorehehadaffrontedthedeckofhiscorrectvesselcladinapearl-grayderby,agayplaidsuitandvaudevilleneckwear.Menowningpleasureyachtsgenerallyharmonizebetterwiththem.