Королі та капуста
Masters of arts
Peddlingorangesinapush-cartisaboutthesuitablegraftforme.WhenIsaidtenthousand,IswearIthoughtIhadsizedupthatbrownman’slimittowithintwocents.He’dhavemelteddownforfifteenthousandjustaseasy.Say—Carry—you’llseeoldmanKeoghsafeinsomenice,quietidiotasylum,won’tyou,ifhemakesabreaklikethatagain?"
TheCasaMorena,althoughonlyonestoryinheight,wasabuildingofbrownstone,luxuriousasapalaceinitsinterior.ItstoodonalowhillinawalledgardenofsplendidtropicalfloraattheupperedgeofCoralio.Thenextdaythepresident’scarriagecameagainfortheartist.Keoghwentoutforawalkalongthebeach,whereheandhis"picturebox"werenowfamiliarsights.WhenhereturnedtothehotelWhitewassittinginasteamer-chaironthebalcony.
"Well,"saidKeogh,"didyouandHisNibsdecideonthekindofachromohewants?"
Whitegotupandwalkedbackandforthonthebalconyafewtimes.Thenhestopped,andlaughedstrangely.Hisfacewasflushed,andhiseyeswerebrightwithakindofangryamusement.
"Lookhere,Billy,"hesaid,somewhatroughly,"whenyoufirstcametomeinmystudioandmentionedapicture,IthoughtyouwantedaSmashedOatsoraHairTonicposterpaintedonarangeofmountainsorthesideofacontinent.Well,eitherofthosejobswouldhavebeenArtinitshighestformcomparedtotheoneyou’vesteeredmeagainst.Ican’tpaintthatpicture,Billy.You’vegottoletmeout.Letmetrytotellyouwhatthatbarbarianwants.
