Королі та капуста
Masters of arts
"I’vegottwoorthreehundredsavedupforsausagesandrent;andI’lltakethechancewithyou.Fivethousand!ItwillgivemetwoyearsinParisandoneinItaly.I’llbegintopacktomorrow."
"You’llbeginintenminutes,"saidKeogh."It’stomorrownow.TheKarlsefinstartsbackatfourP.M.Comeontoyourpaintingshop,andI’llhelpyou."
ForfivemonthsintheyearCoralioistheNewportofAnchuria.Thenonlydoesthetownpossesslife.FromNovembertoMarchitispracticallytheseatofgovernment.Thepresidentwithhisofficialfamilysojournsthere;andsocietyfollowshim.Thepleasure-lovingpeoplemaketheseasononelongholidayofamusementandrejoicing.Fiestas,balls,games,seabathing,processionsandsmalltheatrescontributetotheirenjoyment.ThefamousSwissbandfromthecapitalplaysinthelittleplazaeveryevening,whilethefourteencarriagesandvehiclesinthetowncircleinfunerealbutcomplacentprocession.Indiansfromtheinteriormountains,lookinglikeprehistoricstoneidols,comedowntopeddletheirhandiworkinthestreets.Thepeoplethrongthenarrowways,achattering,happy,carelessstreamofbuoyanthumanity.Preposterouschildrenriggedoutwiththeshortestofballetskirtsandgiltwings,howl,underfoot,amongtheeffervescentcrowds.Especiallyisthearrivalofthepresidentialparty,attheopeningoftheseason,attendedwithpomp,showandpatrioticdemonstrationsofenthusiasmanddelight.
