Королі та капуста

           Hehasrobbedhispeopleofalargesum,anditisIwhowillpreventtheirlosingit.Idonotsaywhothatgentlemanis;butifIshouldbeforcedtoseehimandheshouldprovetobeacertainhighofficialoftherepublic,itwillbemydutytoarresthim.Thehouseisguarded.Iamofferingyouliberalterms.ItisnotabsolutelynecessarythatIconferpersonallywiththegentlemaninthenextroom.Bringmethevalisecontainingthemoney,andwewillcalltheaffairended."

           Theladyarosefromherchairandstoodforamoment,thinkingdeeply.

           "Doyoulivehere,Mr.Goodwin?"sheasked,presently.

           "Yes."

           "Whatisyourauthorityforthisintrusion?"

           "Iamaninstrumentoftherepublic.Iwasadvisedbywireofthemovementsofthe—gentlemaninNumber10."

           "MayIaskyoutwoorthreequestions?Ibelieveyoutobeamanmoreapttobetruthfulthan—timid.Whatsortofatownisthis—Coralio,Ithinktheycallit?"

           "Notmuchofatown,"saidGoodwin,smiling."Abananatown,astheyrun.Grasshuts,‘dobes,fiveorsixtwo-storyhouses,accommodationslimited,populationhalf-breedSpanishandIndian,Caribsandblackamoors.Nosidewalkstospeakof,noamusements.Ratherunmoral.That’sanoffhandsketch,ofcourse."

           "Arethereanyinducements,sayinasocialorinabusinessway,forpeopletoresidehere?"

           "Oh,yes,"answeredGoodwin,smilingbroadly."Therearenoafternoonteas,nohand-organs,nodepartmentstores—andthereisnoextraditiontreaty."