Короли и капуста
Money Maze
Thussheeveracknowledgedhiscoming,wereittwentytimesaday.IftheywhosometimessatovertheirwineinCoralio,reshapingold,divertingstoriesofthemadcapcareerofIsabelGuilbert,couldhaveseenthewifeofFrankGoodwinthatafternoonintheestimableauraofherhappywifehood,theymighthavedisbelieved,orhaveagreedtoforget,thosegraphicannalsofthelifeoftheoneforwhomtheirpresidentgaveuphiscountryandhishonour.
"Ihavebroughtaguesttodinner,"saidGoodwin."OneColonelFalcon,fromSanMateo.Heiscomeongovernmentbusiness.Idonotthinkyouwillcaretoseehim,soIprescribeforyouoneofthoseconvenientandindisputablefeminineheadaches."
"Hehascometoinquireaboutthelostmoney,hashenot?"askedMrs.Goodwin,goingonwithhersketch.
"Agoodguess!"acknowledgedGoodwin."Hehasbeenholdinganinquisitionamongthenativesforthreedays.Iamnextonhislistofwitnesses,butashefeelsshyaboutdraggingoneofUncleSam’ssubjectsbeforehim,heconsentstogiveittheoutwardappearanceofasocialfunction.Hewillapplythetortureovermyownwineandprovender."
"Hashefoundanyonewhosawthevaliseofmoney?"
"Notasoul.EvenMadamaOrtiz,whoseeyesaresosharpforthesightofarevenueofficial,doesnotrememberthattherewasanybaggage."
Mrs.Goodwinlaiddownherbrushandsighed.
"Iamsosorry,Frank,"shesaid,"thattheyaregivingyousomuchtroubleaboutthemoney.