Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Presley,whobynowwasconsideredtheconfidentialfriendofeverymemberoftheCommittee,loungedasbeforeonthesofa,smokingcigarettes,thecatNathalieonhisknee.BesidesMagnusandAnnixter,Ostermanwaspresent,andoldBrodersonandHarran;GarnetfromtheRubyRanchoandGethingsoftheSanPablo,whowerealsomembersoftheExecutiveCommittee,wereonhand,preoccupied,beardedmen,smokingblackcigars,and,lastofall,Dabney,thesilentoldman,ofwhomlittlewasknownbuthisname,andwhohadbeenmadeamemberoftheCommittee,nobodycouldtellwhy.

           “MysonLymanshouldbehere,gentlemen,withinatleasttenminutes.IhavesentmyteamtomeethimatBonneville,”explainedMagnus,ashecalledthemeetingtoorder.“TheSecretarywillcalltheroll.”

           Ostermancalledtheroll,and,tofillinthetime,readovertheminutesofthepreviousmeeting.ThetreasurerwasmakinghisreportastothefundsatthedisposaloftheLeaguewhenLymanarrived.

           MagnusandHarranwentforwardtomeethim,andtheCommitteeratherawkwardlyroseandremainedstandingwhilethethreeexchangedgreetings,themembers,someofwhomhadneverseentheircommissioner,eyeinghimoutofthecornersoftheireyes.

           Lymanwasdressedwithhisusualcorrectness.Hiscravatwasofthelatestfashion,hisclothesofcarefuldesignandunimpeachablefit.Hisshoes,ofpatentleather,reflectedthelamplight,andhecarriedadrabovercoatoverhisarm.BeforebeingintroducedtotheCommittee,heexcusedhimselfamomentandrantoseehismother,whowaitedforhimintheadjoiningsitting-room.