Королі та капуста
The Remnants of the Code
AnythingIcandoforyou?"
"Iwanttospeaktoyouinprivate."
Goodwinnoddedathissecretary,whostrolledoutunderamangotreeandlitacigarette.Blythetookthechairthathehadleftvacant.
"Iwantsomemoney,"hebegan,doggedly.
"I’msorry,"saidGoodwin,withequaldirectness,"butyoucan’thaveany.You’redrinkingyourselftodeath,Blythe.Yourfriendshavedonealltheycouldtohelpyoutobraceup.Youwon’thelpyourself.There’snousefurnishingyouwithmoneytoruinyourselfwithanylonger."
"Dearman,"saidBlythe,tiltingbackhischair,"itisn’taquestionofsocialeconomynow.It’spastthat.Ilikeyou,Goodwin;andI’vecometostickaknifebetweenyourribs.IwaskickedoutofEspada’ssaloonthismorning;andSocietyowesmereparationformywoundedfeelings."
"Ididn’tkickyouout."
"No;butinageneralwayyourepresentSociety;andinaparticularwayyourepresentmylastchance.I’vehadtocomedowntoit,oldman—ItriedtodoitamonthagowhenLosada’smanwashereturningthingsover;butIcouldn’tdoitthen.Nowit’sdifferent.Iwantathousanddollars,Goodwin;andyou’llhavetogiveittome."
"Onlylastweek,"saidGoodwin,withasmile,"asilverdollarwasallyouwereaskingfor."
"Anevidence,"saidBlythe,flippantly,"thatIwasstillvirtuous—thoughunderheavypressure.Thewagesofsinshouldbesomethinghigherthanapesoworthforty-eightcents.Let’stalkbusiness.
