Короли и капуста
Money Maze
Isawnovaliseorreceptacleofanykind,oranymoneybelongingtotheRepublicofAnchuria.IfPresidentMirafloresdecampedwithanyfundsbelongingtothetreasuryofthiscountry,ortohimself,ortoanyoneelse,Isawnotraceofitinthehouseorelsewhere,atthattimeoratanyother.Doesthatstatementcoverthegroundoftheinquiryyouwishedtomakeofme?"
ColonelFalconbowed,anddescribedafluentcurvewithhiscigar.Hisdutywasperformed.Goodwinwasnottobedisputed.Hewasaloyalsupporterofthegovernment,andenjoyedthefullconfidenceofthenewpresident.HisrectitudehadbeenthecapitalthathadbroughthimfortuneinAnchuria,justasithadformedthelucrative"graft"ofMellinger,thesecretaryofMiraflores.
"Ithankyou,SeñorGoodwin,"saidFalcon,"forspeakingplainly.Yourwordwillbesufficientforthepresident.But,SeñorGoodwin,Iaminstructedtopursueeverycluethatpresentsitselfinthismatter.ThereisonethatIhavenotyettouchedupon.OurfriendsinFrance,señor,haveasaying,‘Cherchezlafemme,’whenthereisamysterywithoutaclue.Butherewedonothavetosearch.ThewomanwhoaccompaniedthelatePresidentinhisflightmustsurely—"
"Imustinterruptyouthere,"interposedGoodwin."ItistruethatwhenIenteredthehotelforthepurposeofinterceptingPresidentMirafloresIfoundaladythere.Imustbegofyoutorememberthatthatladyisnowmywife.IspeakforherasIdoformyself.
