Королі та капуста
Smith
Isawherboatcomeashore,andtherewasnoone.Abouttheonlyexcitingrecreationwehavehereiswatchingsteamerswhentheyarrive;andapassengerononeofthemgenerallycausesthewholetowntoturnout.IfyouaregoingtoremaininCoralioawhile,Mr.Smith,I’llbegladtotakeyouaroundtomeetsomepeople.TherearefourorfiveAmericanchapsthataregoodtoknow,besidesthenativehigh-fliers."
"Thanks,"saidtheyachtsman,"butIwouldn’tputyoutothetrouble.I’dliketomeettheguysyouspeakof,butIwon’tbeherelongenoughtodomuchknockingaround.Thatcoolgentonthebeachspokeofadoctor;canyoutellmewhereIcouldfindhim?TheRamblerain’tquiteassteadyonherfeetasaBroadwayhotel;andafellowgetsatouchofseasicknessnowandthen.ThoughtI’dstrikethecroakerforahandfulofthelittlesugarpills,incaseIneed’em."
"YouwillbeapttofindDr.Greggatthehotel,"saidtheconsul."Youcanseeitfromthedoor—it’sthattwo-storybuildingwiththebalcony,wheretheorange-treesare."
TheHoteldelosEstranjeroswasadrearyhostelry,ingreatdisusebothbystrangersandfriends.ItstoodatacorneroftheStreetoftheHolySepulchre.Agroveofsmallorange-treescrowdedagainstonesideofit,enclosedbyalow,rockwalloverwhichatallmanmighteasilystep.Thehousewasofplasteredadobe,stainedahundredshadesofcolourbythesaltbreezeandthesun.Uponitsupperbalconyopenedacentraldoorandtwowindowscontainingbroadjalousiesinsteadofsashes.
