Королі та капуста

           "But’tisalllikefly-by-nighttheatricalstome.Thetalk’sbiggerthanthestage;there’sasmellofgasolineintheair,andthey’retheirownaudienceandscene-shifters."

           Theyceasedtalking,forGeneralPilarhaddescendedfromthefirstcarriageandhadtakenhisstanduponthetopstepofCasaMorena.Astheoldestmemberofthecabinet,customhaddecreedthatheshouldmaketheaddressofwelcome,presentingthekeysoftheofficialresidencetothepresidentatitsclose.

           GeneralPilarwasoneofthemostdistinguishedcitizensoftherepublic.Heroofthreewarsandinnumerablerevolutions,hewasanhonouredguestatEuropeancourtsandcamps.Aneloquentspeakerandafriendtothepeople,herepresentedthehighesttypeoftheAnchurians.

           HoldinginhishandthegiltkeysofCasaMorena,hebeganhisaddressinahistoricalform,touchinguponeachadministrationandtheadvanceofcivilizationandprosperityfromthefirstdimstrivingafterlibertydowntopresenttimes.ArrivingattherégimeofPresidentLosada,atwhichpoint,accordingtoprecedent,heshouldhavedeliveredaeulogyuponitswiseconductandthehappinessofthepeople,GeneralPilarpaused.Thenhesilentlyheldupthebunchofkeyshighabovehishead,withhiseyescloselyregardingit.Theribbonwithwhichtheywereboundflutteredinthebreeze.

           "Itstillblows,"criedthespeaker,exultantly."CitizensofAnchuria,givethankstothesaintsthisnightthatourairisstillfree."