Королі та капуста

           ThusdisposingofLosada’sadministration,heabruptlyrevertedtothatofOlivarra,Anchuria’smostpopularruler.Olivarrahadbeenassassinatednineyearsbeforewhileintheprimeoflifeandusefulness.AfactionoftheLiberalpartyledbyLosadahimselfhadbeenaccusedofthedeed.Whetherguiltyornot,itwaseightyearsbeforetheambitiousandschemingLosadahadgainedhisgoal.

           UponthisthemeGeneralPilar’seloquencewasloosed.HedrewthepictureofthebeneficentOlivarrawithalovinghand.Heremindedthepeopleofthepeace,thesecurityandthehappinesstheyhadenjoyedduringthatperiod.HerecalledinvividdetailandwithsignificantcontrastthelastwintersojournofPresidentOlivarrainCoralio,whenhisappearanceattheirfiestaswasthesignalforthunderingvivasofloveandapprobation.

           Thefirstpublicexpressionofsentimentfromthepeoplethatdayfollowed.Alow,sustainedmurmurwentamongthemlikethesurfrollingalongtheshore.

           "TendollarstoadinnerattheSaintCharles,"remarkedMr.Vincenti,"thatrougewins."

           "Ineverbetagainstmyowninterests,"saidCaptainCronin,lightingacigar."Long-windedoldboy,forhisage.What’shetalkingabout?"

           "MySpanish,"repliedVincenti,"runsabouttenwordstotheminute;hisissomethingaroundtwohundred.Whateverhe’ssaying,he’sgettingthemwarmedup."