Королі та капуста
The Shamrock and the Palm
Prettysoonweheardthepat-a-patofhundredsofbarefeet,andtheDagogangthatunloadsthefruitjumpedonthedeckanddownintothehold.Meandthegeneralworkedawhileatpassin’upthebunches,andtheythoughtwewerepartofthegang.Afteraboutanhourwemanagedtoslipoffthesteamerontothewharf.
"’TwasagreathonouronthehandsofanobscureClancy,havin’theentertainmentoftherepresentativeofagreatforeignfilibusterin’power.Ifirstboughtforthegeneralandmyselfmanylongdrinksandthingstoeatthatwerenotbananas.Thegeneralmantrottedalongatmyside,leavin’allthearrangementstome.IledhimuptoLafayetteSquareandsethimonabenchinthelittlepark.CigarettesIhadboughtforhim,andhehumpedhimselfdownontheseatlikealittle,fat,contentedhobo.Ilookhimoverashesetsthere,andwhatIseepleasesme.Brownbynatureandinstinct,heisnowbrindledwithdirtanddust.Praisetothemule,hisclothesismostlystringsandflaps.Yes,thelooksofthegeneralmanisagreeabletoClancy.
"Iaskhim,delicate,if,byanychance,hebroughtawayanybody’smoneywithhimfromGuatemala.Hesighsandbumpshisshouldersagainstthebench.Notacent.Allright.Maybe,hetellsme,someofhisfriendsinthetropicoutfitwillsendhimfundslater.ThegeneralwasasclearacaseofnovisiblemeansasIeversaw.
"Itoldhimnottomovefromthebench,andthenIwentuptothecornerofPoydrasandCarondelet.AlongthereisO’Hara’sbeat.
