Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter III
They—thesemenaroundhistableonthatnightofthefirstrainofacomingseason—seemedtostandinhisimaginationformanyothers—allthefarmers,ranchers,andwheatgrowersofthegreatSanJoaquin.Theirwordswerethewordsofawholecommunity;theirdistress,thedistressofanentireState,harriedbeyondtheboundsofendurance,driventothewall,coerced,exploited,harassedtothelimitsofexasperation.“Iwillthinkofit,”hesaid,thenhastenedtoadd,“butIcantellyoubeforehandthatyoumayexpectonlyarefusal.”
AfterMagnushadspoken,therewasaprolongedsilence.Theconferenceseemedofitselftohavecometoanendforthatevening.Presleylightedanothercigarettefromthebuttoftheonehehadbeensmoking,andthecat,PrincessNathalie,disturbedbyhismovementandbyawhiffofdriftingsmoke,jumpedfromhiskneetothefloorandpickingherwayacrosstheroomtoAnnixter,rubbedgentlyagainsthislegs,hertailintheair,herbackdelicatelyarched.Nodoubtshethoughtittimetosettleherselfforthenight,andasAnnixtergavenoindicationofvacatinghischair,shechosethiswayofcajolinghimintocedinghisplacetoher.ButAnnixterwasirritatedatthePrincess’sattentions,misunderstandingtheirmotive.
“Getout!”heexclaimed,liftinghisfeettotherungofthechair.“Lordloveme,butIsuredohateacat.”
“Bytheway,”observedOsterman,“IpassedGenslingerbythegateasIcameinto-night.Hadhebeenhere?”
“Yes,hewashere,”saidHarran,“and—”butAnnixtertookthewordsoutofhismouth.
