Королі та капуста
The Admiral
Asudden,prankishhumourofDonSabas,impellinghimtothedeed,spicedthegraveaffairsofstatewithawhiffofagreeableplayfulness.
InthedilatoryorderofbusinesshadcomeabulletinfromthecoastdepartmentofOrilladelMarreportingtheseizurebythecustom-houseofficersatthetownofCoralioofthesloopEstrelladelNocheandhercargoofdrygoods,patentmedicines,granulatedsugarandthree-starbrandy.AlsosixMartiniriflesandabarrelofAmericanwhisky.Caughtintheactofsmuggling,thesloopwithitscargowasnow,accordingtolaw,thepropertyoftherepublic.
TheCollectorofCustoms,inmakinghisreport,departedfromtheconventionalformssofarastosuggestthattheconfiscatedvesselbeconvertedtotheuseofthegovernment.Theprizewasthefirstcapturetothecreditofthedepartmentintenyears.Thecollectortookopportunitytopathisdepartmentontheback.
Itoftenhappenedthatgovernmentofficersrequiredtransportationfrompointtopointalongthecoast,andmeanswereusuallylacking.Furthermore,thesloopcouldbemannedbyaloyalcrewandemployedasacoastguardtodiscouragetheperniciousartofsmuggling.Thecollectoralsoventuredtonominateonetowhomthechargeoftheboatcouldbesafelyintrusted—ayoungmanofCoralio,FelipeCarrera—not,beitunderstood,oneofextremewisdom,butloyalandthebestsailoralongthecoast.
ItwasuponthishintthattheMinisterofWaracted,executingararepieceofdrollerythatsoenlivenedthetediumofexecutivesession.
