Королі та капуста

           Youknowwhatisneededinthisgame.Moneyandmoneyandmoremoney.Whyhasitnotbeensent?"

           "BytheCristobal,"repliedDeLucco,gesticulating,"itwasdespatched.WhereistheCristobal?OffCapeAntonioIspokeherwithabrokenshaft.AtrampcoasterwastowingherbacktoNewOrleans.Ibroughtmoneyashorethinkingyourneedforitmightnotwithstanddelay.Inthisenvelopeisonethousanddollars.Thereismoreifyouneedit,Mr.Maloney."

           "Forthepresentitwillsuffice,"saidDicky,softeningashecrinkledtheenvelopeandlookeddownatthehalf-inchthicknessofsmooth,dingybills.

           "Thelonggreen!"hesaid,gently,withanewreverenceinhisgaze."Isthereanythingitwillnotbuy,Captain?"

           "Ihadthreefriends,"repliedDeLucco,whowasabitofaphilosopher,"whohadmoney.Oneofthemspeculatedinstocksandmadetenmillion;anotherisinheaven,andthethirdmarriedapoorgirlwhomheloved."

           "Theanswer,then,"saidDicky,"isheldbytheAlmighty,WallStreetandCupid.So,thequestionremains."

           "This,"queriedthecaptain,includingDicky’ssurroundingsinasignificantgestureofhishand,"isit—itisnot—itisnotconnectedwiththebusinessofyourlittleshop?Thereisnofailureinyourplans?"

           "No,no,"saidDicky."Thisismerelytheresultofalittleprivateaffairofmine,adigressionfromtheregularlineofbusiness.Theysayforacompletelifeamanmustknowpoverty,loveandwar.Buttheydon’tgowelltogether,capitánmio.