Королі та капуста
Rouge et Noir
PresidentLosadawasanelderlyman,grizzlybearded,withaconsiderableratioofIndianbloodrevealedinhiscinnamoncomplexion.Hiscarriageheadedtheprocession,surroundedandguardedbyCaptainCruzandhisfamoustroopofonehundredlighthorse"ElCientoHuilando."ColonelRocasfollowed,witharegimentoftheregulararmy.
Thepresident’ssharp,beadyeyesglancedabouthimfortheexpecteddemonstrationofwelcome;buthefacedastolid,indifferentarrayofcitizens.Sight-seerstheAnchuriansarebybirthandhabit,andtheyturnedouttotheirlastable-bodiedunittowitnessthescene;buttheymaintainedanaccusivesilence.Theycrowdedthestreetstotheverywheelruts;theycoveredtheredtileroofstotheeaves,buttherewasnevera"viva"fromthem.Nowreathsofpalmandlemonbranchesorgorgeousstringsofpaperroseshungfromthewindowsandbalconiesaswasthecustom.Therewasanapathy,adull,dissentingdisapprobation,thatwasthemoreominousbecauseitpuzzled.Noonefearedanoutburst,arevoltofthediscontents,fortheyhadnoleader.Thepresidentandthoseloyaltohimhadneverevenheardwhisperedanameamongthemcapableofcrystallizingthedissatisfactionintoopposition.No,therecouldbenodanger.Thepeoplealwaysprocuredanewidolbeforetheydestroyedanoldone.
