Королі та капуста

           Theadmiralemittedacroaking,harshlaugh,andspake.

           "Theywillstandyou,"hesaid,"withyourfacetoawallandshootyoudead.Thatisthewaytheykilltraitors.Iknewyouwhenyousteppedintomyboat.Ihaveseenyourpictureinabook.YouareSabasPlacido,traitortoyourcountry.Withyourfacetoawall.So,youwilldie.Iamtheadmiral,andIwilltakeyoutothem.Withyourfacetoawall.Yes."

           DonSabashalfturnedandwavedhishand,witharinginglaugh,towardhisfellowfugitives."Toyou,caballeros,IhaverelatedthehistoryofthatsessionwhenweissuedthatO!soridiculouscommission.Ofatruthourjesthasbeenturnedagainstus.BeholdtheFrankenstein’smonsterwehavecreated!"

           DonSabasglancedtowardtheshore.ThelightsofCoralioweredrawingnear.Hecouldseethebeach,thewarehouseoftheBodegaNacional,thelong,lowcuarteloccupiedbythesoldiers,and,behindthat,gleaminginthemoonlight,astretchofhighadobewall.Hehadseenmenstoodwiththeirfacestothatwallandshotdead.

           Againheaddressedtheextravagantfigureatthehelm.

           "Itistrue,"hesaid,"thatIamfleeingthecountry.But,receivetheassurancethatIcareverylittleforthat.CourtsandcampseverywhereareopentoSabasPlacido.Vaya!whatisthismolehillofarepublic—thispig’sheadofacountry—toamanlikeme?Iamapaisanoofeverywhere.InRome,inLondon,inParis,inVienna,youwillhearthemsay:‘Welcomeback,DonSabas.