Королі та капуста
Masters of arts
HewantshispicturepaintedbythecelebratedyoungAmericanpainterandfilibusternowsojourninginhisdown-troddencountry.Offyougo."
Thevictoriaspedawaywiththeartist.Keoghwalkedupanddown,puffinggreatcloudsofsmokefromhispipe,andwaited.Inanhourthevictoriasweptagaintothedoorofthehotel,depositedWhite,andvanished.Theartistdashedupthestairs,threeatastep.Keoghstoppedsmoking,andbecameasilentinterrogationpoint.
"Landed,"exclaimedWhite,withhisboyishfaceflushedwithelation."Billy,youareawonder.Hewantsapicture.I’lltellyouallaboutit.ByHeavens!thatdictatorchapisacorker!He’sadictatorcleardowntohisfinger-ends.He’sakindofcombinationofJuliusCæsar,LuciferandChaunceyDepewdoneinsepia.Politeandgrim—that’shisway.TheroomIsawhiminwasabouttenacresbig,andlookedlikeaMississippisteamboatwithitsgildingandmirrorsandwhitepaint.HetalksEnglishbetterthanIcaneverhopeto.Thematterofthepricecameup.Imentionedtenthousand.Iexpectedhimtocalltheguardandhavemetakenoutandshot.Hedidn’tmoveaneyelash.Hejustwavedoneofhischestnuthandsinacarelessway,andsaid,‘Whateveryousay.’Iamtogobacktomorrowanddiscusswithhimthedetailsofthepicture."
Keoghhunghishead.Self-abasementwaseasytoreadinhisdowncastcountenance.
"I’mfailing,Carry,"hesaid,sorrowfully."I’mnotfittohandletheseman’s-sizeschemesanylonger.
