Королі та капуста
The Admiral
Intheconstitutionofthissmall,maritimebananarepublicwasaforgottensectionthatprovidedforthemaintenanceofanavy.Thisprovision—withmanyotherwiserones—hadlaininertsincetheestablishmentoftherepublic.Anchuriahadnonavyandhadnouseforone.ItwascharacteristicofDonSabas—amanatoncemerry,learned,whimsicalandaudacious—thatheshouldhavedisturbedthedustofthismustyandsleepingstatutetoincreasethehumouroftheworldbysomuchasasmilefromhisindulgentcolleagues.
WithdelightfulmockseriousnesstheMinisterofWarproposedthecreationofanavy.HeargueditsneedandthegloriesitmightachievewithsuchgayandwittyzealthatthetravestyovercamewithitshumoureventheswartdignityofPresidentLosadahimself.
Thechampagnewasbubblingtrickilyintheveinsofthemercurialstatesmen.ItwasnotthecustomofthegravegovernorsofAnchuriatoenliventheirsessionswithabeveragesoapttocastaveilofdisparagementoversoberaffairs.ThewinehadbeenathoughtfulcomplimenttenderedbytheagentoftheVesuviusFruitCompanyasatokenofamicablerelations—andcertainconsummateddeals—betweenthatcompanyandtherepublicofAnchuria.
Thejestwascarriedtoitsend.Aformidable,officialdocumentwasprepared,encrustedwithchromaticsealsandjauntywithflutteringribbons,bearingthefloridsignaturesofstate.ThiscommissionconferreduponelSeñorDonFelipeCarrerathetitleofFlagAdmiraloftheRepublicofAnchuria.
