Королі та капуста
“Fox-in-the-Morning”
Attheoutskirtsofthevillagethesestreetsdwindledtonothing;andhereweresetthepalm-thatchedhutsoftheCaribsandthepoorernatives,andtheshabbycabinsofnegroesfromJamaicaandtheWestIndiaislands.Afewstructuresraisedtheirheadsabovethered-tiledroofsoftheone-storyhouses—thebelltoweroftheCalaboza,theHoteldelosEstranjeros,theresidenceoftheVesuviusFruitCompany’sagent,thestoreandresidenceofBernardBrannigan,aruinedcathedralinwhichColumbushadoncesetfoot,and,mostimposingofall,theCasaMorena—thesummer"WhiteHouse"ofthePresidentofAnchuria.Ontheprincipalstreetrunningalongthebeach—theBroadwayofCoralio—werethelargerstores,thegovernmentbodegaandpost-office,thecuartel,therum-shopsandthemarketplace.
OnhiswayGoodwinpassedthehouseofBernardBrannigan.Itwasamodernwoodenbuilding,twostoriesinheight.ThegroundfloorwasoccupiedbyBrannigan’sstore,theupperonecontainedthelivingapartments.Awidecoolporchranaroundthehousehalfwayupitsouterwalls.Ahandsome,vivaciousgirlneatlydressedinflowingwhiteleanedovertherailingandsmileddownuponGoodwin.ShewasnodarkerthanmanyanAndalusianofhighdescent;andshesparkledandglowedlikeatropicalmoonlight.
"Goodevening,MissPaula,"saidGoodwin,takingoffhishat,withhisreadysmile.Therewaslittledifferenceinhismannerwhetherheaddressedwomenormen.EverybodyinCoraliolikedtoreceivethesalutationofthebigAmerican.
"Isthereanynews,Mr
