Королі та капуста

           Curiosity,however,soonperished;andDickytookhisplaceamongtheoddfishcastupbytheCaribbean.

           Hewasanactive,devil-may-care,rollickingfellowwithanengaginggrayeye,themostirresistiblegrin,aratherdarkormuchsunburnedcomplexion,andaheadofthefieriestredhaireverseeninthatcountry.SpeakingtheSpanishlanguageaswellashespokeEnglish,andseemingalwaystohaveplentyofsilverinhispockets,itwasnotlongbeforehewasawelcomecompanionwhithersoeverhewent.Hehadanextremefondnessforvinoblanco,andgainedthereputationofbeingabletodrinkmoreofitthananythreemenintown.Everybodycalledhim"Dicky";everybodycheeredupatthesightofhim—especiallythenatives,towhomhismarvellousredhairandhisfree-and-easystylewereaconstantdelightandenvy.WhereveryouwentinthetownyouwouldsoonseeDickyorhearhisgeniallaugh,andfindaroundhimagroupofadmirerswhoappreciatedhimbothforhisgoodnatureandthewhitewinehewasalwayssoreadytobuy.

           Aconsiderableamountofspeculationwashadconcerningtheobjectofhissojournthere,untilonedayhesilencedthisbyopeningasmallshopforthesaleoftobacco,dulcesandthehandiworkoftheinteriorIndians—fibre-and-silk-wovengoods,deerskinzapatosandbasketworkoftulereeds.Eventhenhedidnotchangehishabits;forhewasdrinkingandplayingcardshalfthedayandnightwiththecomandante,thecollectorofcustoms,theJefePoliticoandothergaydogsamongthenativeofficials.