Королі та капуста

           Asanaccreditedspokesman,Ipromisethatourinterferencewillceaseiftheyareaccepted.Giveupthemoney,andyouandyourcompanionwillbepermittedtoproceedwhereveryouwill.Infact,assistancewillbegivenyouinthematterofsecuringapassagebyanyoutgoingvesselyoumaychoose.ItisonmypersonalresponsibilitythatIaddcongratulationstothegentlemaninNumber10uponhistasteinfemininecharms."

           Returninghiscigartohismouth,Goodwinobservedher,andsawthathereyesfolloweditandresteduponitwithicyandsignificantconcentration.Apparentlyshehadnotheardawordhehadsaid.Heunderstood,tossedthecigaroutthewindow,and,withanamusedlaugh,slidfromthetabletohisfeet.

           "Thatisbetter,"saidthelady."Itmakesitpossibleformetolistentoyou.Forasecondlessoningoodmanners,youmightnowtellmebywhomIambeinginsulted."

           "Iamsorry,"saidGoodwin,leaningonehandonthetable,"thatmytimeistoobrieffordevotingmuchofittoacourseofetiquette.Come,now;Iappealtoyourgoodsense.Youhaveshownyourself,inmorethanoneinstance,tobewellawareofwhatistoyouradvantage.Thisisanoccasionthatdemandstheexerciseofyourundoubtedintelligence.Thereisnomysteryhere.IamFrankGoodwin;andIhavecomeforthemoney.Ienteredthisroomataventure.HadIenteredtheotherIwouldhavehaditbeforenow.Doyouwantitinwords?ThegentlemaninNumber10hasbetrayedagreattrust.