Королі та капуста

           Onlyatmidnightcantheybepickedbysailor-menwhobringthem,beforedaylightcomes,toyourbackdoor.Goodaguardienteisaverreedifficultfruittohandle,SeñorGoodwin."

           Smuggling,inCoralio,wasmuchnearerthancompetitiontobeingthelifeoftrade.Onespokeofitslyly,yetwithacertainconceit,whenithadbeenwellaccomplished.

           "Youhaveguestsinthehouseto-night,"saidGoodwin,layingasilverdollaruponthecounter.

           "Whynot?"saidMadama,countingthechange."Two;butthesmallestwhilefinishedtoarrive.Oneseñor,notquiteold,andoneseñoritaofsufficienthandsomeness.Totheirroomstheyhaveascended,notdesiringtheto-eatnortheto-drink.Tworooms—Numero9andNumero10."

           "Iwasexpectingthatgentlemanandthatlady,"saidGoodwin."Ihaveimportantnegociosthatmustbetransacted.Willyouallowmetoseethem?"

           "Whynot?"sighedMadama,placidly."WhyshouldnotSeñorGoodwinascendandspeaktohisfriends?Estábueno.RoomNumero9androomNumero10."

           GoodwinloosenedinhiscoatpockettheAmericanrevolverthathecarried,andascendedthesteep,darkstairway.

           Inthehallwayabove,thesaffronlightfromahanginglampallowedhimtoselectthegaudynumbersonthedoors.HeturnedtheknobofNumber9,enteredandclosedthedoorbehindhim.

           IfthatwasIsabelGuilbertseatedbythetableinthatpoorlyfurnishedroom,reporthadfailedtodohercharmsjustice.Sherestedherheadupononehand.