Короли и капуста
“Fox-in-the-Morning”
Abovethedoorwasasignthatread"KeoghandClancy"—anomenclaturethatseemednottobeindigenoustothattropicalsoil.ThemaninthedoorwasBillyKeogh,scoutoffortuneandprogressandlatter-dayroveroftheSpanishMain.TintypesandphotographsweretheweaponswithwhichKeoghandClancywereatthattimeassailingthehopelessshores.Outsidetheshopweresettwolargeframesfilledwithspecimensoftheirartandskill.
Keoghleanedinthedoorway,hisboldandhumorouscountenancewearingalookofinterestattheunusualinfluxoflifeandsoundintothestreet.Whenthemeaningofthedisturbancebecamecleartohimheplacedahandbesidehismouthandshouted:"Hey!Frank!"insucharobustiousvoicethatthefeebleclamourofthenativeswasdrownedandsilenced.
Fiftyyardsaway,ontheseawardsideofthestreet,stoodtheabodeoftheconsulfortheUnitedStates.OutfromthedoorofthisbuildingtumbledGoodwinatthecall.HehadbeensmokingwithWillardGeddie,theconsul,onthebackporchoftheconsulate,whichwasconcededtobethecoolestspotinCoralio.
"Hurryup,"shoutedKeogh."There’sariotintownonaccountofatelegramthat’scomeforyou.Youwanttobecarefulaboutthesethings,myboy.Itwon’tdototriflewiththefeelingsofthepublicthisway.You’llbegettingapinknotesomedaywithvioletscentonit;andthenthecountry’llbesteepedinthethroesofarevolution."
Goodwinhadstrolledupthestreetandmettheboywiththemessage.
