Королі та капуста
Masters of arts
It’swhatI’vebeenlivingonwhileI’vebeenstudyingart.I’lldrawoutmyshareandpayyoubackwhatyou’velostonthisscheme."
"Lost!"exclaimedKeogh,jumpingup."Didn’tyougetpaidforthepicture?"
"Yes,Igotpaid,"saidWhite."Butjustnowthereisn’tanypicture,andthereisn’tanypay.Ifyoucaretohearaboutit,herearetheedifyingdetails.ThepresidentandIwerelookingatthepainting.HissecretarybroughtabankdraftonNewYorkfortenthousanddollarsandhandedittome.ThemomentItoucheditIwentwild.Itoreitintolittlepiecesandthrewthemonthefloor.Aworkmanwasrepaintingthepillarsinsidethepatio.Abucketofhispainthappenedtobeconvenient.Ipickeduphisbrushandslappedaquartofbluepaintalloverthatten-thousand-dollarnightmare.Ibowed,andwalkedout.Thepresidentdidn’tmoveorspeak.Thatwasonetimehewastakenbysurprise.It’stoughonyou,Billy,butIcouldn’thelpit."
ThereseemedtobeexcitementinCoralio.Outsidetherewasaconfused,risingmurmurpiercedbyhigh-pitchedcries."Bajoeltraidor—Muerteeltraidor!"werethewordstheyseemedtoform.
"Listentothat!"exclaimedWhite,bitterly:"IknowthatmuchSpanish.They’reshouting,‘Downwiththetraitor!’Iheardthembefore.Ifeltthattheymeantme.IwasatraitortoArt.Thepicturehadtogo."
"‘Downwiththeblankfool’wouldhavesuitedyourcasebetter,"saidKeogh,withfieryemphasis.
