Королі та капуста

           Franzonideniedthathiscompanywouldreceiveanybenefitsfromacontemplatedroad.Asitsrepresentativehemustdeclinetocontributefiftythousandpesos.Buthewouldassumetheresponsibilityofofferingtwenty-five.

           DidSeñorEspiritionunderstandSeñorFranzonitomeantwenty-fivethousandpesos?

           Bynomeans.Twenty-fivepesos.Andinsilver;notingold.

           "Yourofferinsultsmygovernment,"criedSeñorEspirition,risingwithindignation.

           "Then,"saidMr.Franzoni,inwarningtone,"wewillchangeit."

           Theofferwasneverchanged.CouldMr.Franzonihavemeantthegovernment?

           ThiswasthestateofaffairsinAnchuriawhenthewinterseasonopenedatCoralioattheendofthesecondyearofLosada’sadministration.So,whenthegovernmentandsocietymadeitsannualexodustotheseashoreitwasevidentthatthepresidentialadventwouldnotbecelebratedbyunlimitedrejoicing.ThetenthofNovemberwasthedaysetfortheentranceintoCoralioofthegaycompanyfromthecapital.Anarrow-gaugerailroadrunstwentymilesintotheinteriorfromSolitas.ThegovernmentpartytravelsbycarriagefromSanMateotothisroad’sterminalpoint,andproceedsbytraintoSolitas.FromheretheymarchingrandprocessiontoCoraliowhere,onthedayoftheircoming,festivitiesandceremoniesabound.ButthisseasonsawanominousdawningofthetenthofNovember.

           Althoughtherainyseasonwasover,thedayseemedtoharkbacktoreekingJune.Afinedrizzleofrainfellallduringtheforenoon.TheprocessionenteredCoralioamidastrangesilence.