Королі та капуста

           "Wasanyoneelsepresentwhenyoushavedhim?"

           "AnoldIndianwoman,Señor,thatbelongedwiththecasa,andoneseñorita—aladeeofsomuchbeautee!—ah,Dios!"

           "Allright,Estebán,"saidGoodwin."It’sveryluckythatyouhappenedalongwithyourtonsorialinformation.Thenewadministrationwillbelikelytorememberyouforthis."

           Theninafewwordshemadethebarberacquaintedwiththecrisisintowhichtheaffairsofthenationhadculminated,andinstructedhimtoremainoutside,keepingwatchuponthetwosidesofthehotelthatlookeduponthestreet,andobservingwhetheranyoneshouldattempttoleavethehousebyanydoororwindow.Goodwinhimselfwenttothedoorthroughwhichtheguestshadentered,openeditandsteppedinside.

           Madamahadreturneddownstairsfromherjourneyabovetoseeafterthecomfortofherlodgers.Hercandlestooduponthebar.Shewasabouttotakeathimblefulofrumasasolaceforhavingherrestdisturbed.Shelookedupwithoutsurpriseoralarmasherthirdcallerentered.

           "Ah!itistheSeñorGoodwin.Notoftendoeshehonourmypoorhousebyhispresence."

           "Imustcomeoftener,"saidGoodwin,withtheGoodwinsmile."IhearthatyourcognacisthebestbetweenBelizetothenorthandRiotothesouth.Setoutthebottle,Madama,andletushavetheproofinunvasitoforeachofus."

           "Myaguardiente,"saidMadama,withpride,"isthebest.Itgrows,inbeautifulbottles,inthedarkplacesamongthebanana-trees.Si,Señor.