Королі та капуста
The Admiral
TheseareyourinstructionsastheMinisterofWardesiresmetoconveythemtoyou.PorDios!Idonotknowhowallthisistobeaccomplished,fornotoneworddidhislettercontaininrespecttoacrewortotheexpensesofthisnavy.Perhapsyouaretoprovideacrewyourself,SeñorAdmiral—Idonotknow—butitisaveryhighhonourthathasdescendeduponyou.Inowhandyouyourcommission.WhenyouarereadyfortheboatIwillgiveordersthatsheshallbemadeoverintoyourcharge.Thatisasfarasmyinstructionsgo."
Felipetookthecommissionthatthecollectorhandedtohim.Hegazedthroughtheopenwindowattheseaforamoment,withhiscustomaryexpressionofdeepbutvainpondering.Thenheturnedwithouthavingspokenaword,andwalkedswiftlyawaythroughthehotsandofthestreet.
"Pobrecitoloco!"sighedthecollector;andtheparrotonthepenracksscreeched"Loco!—loco!—loco!"
Thenextmorningastrangeprocessionfiledthroughthestreetstothecollector’soffice.Atitsheadwastheadmiralofthenavy.SomewhereFelipehadrakedtogetherapitifulsemblanceofamilitaryuniform—apairofredtrousers,adingyblueshortjacketheavilyornamentedwithgoldbraid,andanoldfatiguecapthatmusthavebeencastawaybyoneoftheBritishsoldiersinBelizeandbroughtawaybyFelipeononeofhiscoastingvoyages.Buckledaroundhiswaistwasanancientship’scutlasscontributedtohisequipmentbyPedroLafitte,thebaker,whoproudlyasserteditsinheritancefromhisancestor,theillustriousbuccaneer.
