Королі та капуста

           Smithlookedbusiness,buthewasnoadvertiser.Hecommenteduponthescenery,remarkinguponitsfidelitytothepicturesinthegeography;andtheninquiredfortheUnitedStatesconsul.Goodwinpointedoutthestarred-and-stripedbuntinghangingabovethelittleconsulate,whichwasconcealedbehindtheorange-trees.

           "Mr.Geddie,theconsul,willbesuretobethere,"saidGoodwin."Hewasverynearlydrownedafewdaysagowhiletakingaswiminthesea,andthedoctorhasorderedhimtoremainindoorsforsometime."

           Smithplowedhiswaythroughthesandtotheconsulate,hishaberdasherycreatingviolentdiscordagainstthesmoothtropicalbluesandgreens.

           Geddiewaslounginginhishammock,somewhatpaleoffaceandlanguidinpose.OnthatnightwhentheValhalla’sboathadbroughthimashoreapparentlydrenchedtodeathbythesea,DoctorGreggandhisotherfriendshadtoiledforhourstopreservethelittlesparkoflifethatremainedtohim.Thebottle,withitsimpotentmessage,wasgoneouttosea,andtheproblemthatithadprovokedwasreducedtoasimplesuminaddition—oneandonemaketwo,bytheruleofarithmetic;onebytheruleofromance.

           Thereisaquaintoldtheorythatmanmayhavetwosouls—aperipheralonewhichservesordinarily,andacentralonewhichisstirredonlyatcertaintimes,butthenwithactivityandvigour.Whileunderthedominationoftheformeramanwillshave,vote,paytaxes,givemoneytohisfamily,buysubscriptionbooksandcomporthimselfontheaverageplan.