Королі та капуста

           How’stheoldburgrackingalong?Whatwouldthegovernmentdowithoutyouandme?Lookoutforagreen-headedparrotandabunchofbananassoon,fromyouroldfriend

           JOHNNY.

           ***

           "Ithrowinthatpostscript,"explainedtheconsul,"soUncleObadiahwon’ttakeoffenceattheofficialtoneoftheletter!Now,Billy,yougetthatcorrespondencefixedup,andsendPanchotothepost-officewithit.TheAriadnetakesthemailouttomorrowiftheymakeupthatloadoffruittoday."

           ThenightprogrammeinCoralionevervaried.Therecreationsofthepeopleweresoporificandflat.Theywanderedabout,barefootandaimless,speakinglowlyandsmokingcigarorcigarette.Lookingdownonthedimlylightedwaysoneseemedtoseeathreadingmazeofbrunetteghoststangledwithaprocessionofinsanefireflies.Insomehousesthethrummingoflugubriousguitarsaddedtothedepressionofthetristenight.Gianttree-frogsrattledinthefoliageasloudlyastheendman’s"bones"inaminstreltroupe.Bynineo’clockthestreetswerealmostdeserted.

           Norattheconsulatewasthereoftenachangeofbill.Keoghwouldcometherenightly,forCoralio’sonecoolplacewasthelittleseawardporchofthatofficialresidence.

           Thebrandywouldbekeptmoving;andbeforemidnightsentimentwouldbegintostirintheheartoftheself-exiledconsul.ThenhewouldrelatetoKeoghthestoryofhisendedromance.EachnightKeoghwouldlistenpatientlytothetale,andbereadywithuntiringsympathy.