Королі та капуста
Caught
Madamawaslonginresponse;butafteratimeherlightshowed,thedoorwasopened,andtheguestshoused.
Goodwinstoodinthequietstreet,lightinganothercigar.Intwominutesafaintgleambegantoshowbetweentheslatsofthejalousiesintheupperstoryofthehotel."Theyhaveengagedrooms,"saidGoodwintohimself."So,then,theirarrangementsforsailinghaveyettobemade."
AtthatmomenttherecamealongoneEstebánDelgado,abarber,anenemytoexistinggovernment,ajovialplotteragainststagnationinanyform.ThisbarberwasoneofCoralio’ssaddestdogs,oftenremainingoutofdoorsaslateaseleven,postmeridian.HewasapartisanLiberal;andhegreetedGoodwinwithflatulentimportanceasabrotherinthecause.Buthehadsomethingimportanttotell.
"Whatthinkyou,DonFrank!"hecried,intheuniversaltoneoftheconspirator."Ihaveto-nightshavedlabarba—whatyoucallthe‘weeskers’ofthePresidentehimself,ofthiscountree!Consider!Hesentformetocome.Inthepoorcasitaofanoldwomanheawaitedme—inaverreeleetlehouseinadarkplace.Carramba!—elSeñorPresidentetomakehimselfthussecretandobscured!Ithinkhedesirednottobeknown—but,carajo!canyoushaveamanandnotseehisface?Thisgoldpiecehegaveme,andsaiditwastobeallquitestill.Ithink,DonFrank,thereiswhatyoucallachipoverthebug."
"HaveyoueverseenPresidentMirafloresbefore?"askedGoodwin.
"Butonce,"answeredEstebán."Heistall;andhehadweeskers,verreeblackandsufficient."
