Королі та капуста

           Pasa,glancingdemurelywithhersaintlyeyes,instantlyperceivedhisresemblancetoherparrot,Chichi,andwasdivertedtotheextentofasmile.Thecomandantesawthesmile,whichwasnotintendedforhim.Convincedofanimpressionmade,heenteredtheshop,confidently,andadvancedtoopencompliment.Pasafroze;hepranced;sheflamedroyally;hewascharmedtoinjudiciouspersistence;shecommandedhimtoleavetheshop;hetriedtocaptureherhand,—andDickyentered,smilingbroadly,fullofwhitewineandthedevil.

           Hespentfiveminutesinpunishingthecomandantescientificallyandcarefully,sothatthepainmightbeprolongedasfaraspossible.Attheendofthattimehepitchedtherashwooeroutthedooruponthestonesofthestreet,senseless.

           Abarefootedpolicemanwhohadbeenwatchingtheaffairfromacrossthestreetblewawhistle.Asquadoffoursoldierscamerunningfromthecuartelaroundthecorner.WhentheysawthattheoffenderwasDicky,theystopped,andblewmorewhistles,whichbroughtoutreënforcementsofeight.Deemingtheoddsagainstthemsufficientlyreduced,themilitaryadvanceduponthedisturber.

           Dicky,beingthoroughlyimbuedwiththemartialspirit,stoopedanddrewthecomandante’ssword,whichwasgirdedabouthim,andchargedhisfoe.Hechasedthestandingarmyfoursquares,playfullyproddingitssquealingrearandhackingatitsginger-colouredheels.

           Buthewasnotsosuccessfulwiththecivicauthorities.Sixmuscular,nimblepolicemenoverpoweredhimandconveyedhim,triumphantlybutwarily,tojail.