Копи царя Соломона
Solomon’s Road
"LetnotmylordofthetransparentEyeandthemeltingTeethtouchthem,"saidtheoldman. "Surelyhisslaveshallcarrythethings.
"ButIwanttoput’emon!"roaredGood,innervousEnglish.
Umbopatranslated.
"Nay,mylord,"answeredInfadoos,"wouldmylordcoveruphisbeautifulwhitelegs(althoughheissodarkGoodhasasingularlywhiteskin)fromtheeyesofhisservants? Haveweoffendedmylordthatheshoulddosuchathing?"
HereInearlyexplodedwithlaughing; andmeanwhileoneofthemenstartedonwiththegarments.
"Damnit!"roaredGood,"thatblackvillainhasgotmytrousers."
"Lookhere,Good,"saidSirHenry;"youhaveappearedinthiscountryinacertaincharacter,andyoumustliveuptoit. Itwillneverdoforyoutoputontrousersagain. Henceforthyoumustexistinaflannelshirt,apairofboots,andaneye-glass."
"Yes,"Isaid,"andwithwhiskersononesideofyourfaceandnotontheother. Ifyouchangeanyofthesethingsthepeoplewillthinkthatweareimpostors. Iamverysorryforyou,but,seriously,youmust. Ifoncetheybegintosuspectusourliveswillnotbeworthabrassfarthing."
"Doyoureallythinkso?"saidGoodgloomily.
"Ido,indeed.Your‘beautifulwhitelegs’andyoureye-glassarenowthefeaturesofourparty, andasSirHenrysays,youmustliveuptothem. Bethankfulthatyouhavegotyourbootson,andthattheairiswarm."
Goodsighed,andsaidnomore, butittookhimafortnighttobecomeaccustomedtohisnewandscantattire."
