Королі та капуста
Cupid’s Exile number two
Thewheelsofpoliticsrevolved;andJohnnywasappointedconsultoCoralio.JustbeforeleavinghedroppedinatHemstetter’stosaygood-bye.Therewasaqueer,pinkishlookaboutRosine’seyes;andhadthetwobeenalone,theUnitedStatesmighthavehadtocastaboutforanotherconsul.ButPinkDawsonwasthere,ofcourse,talkingabouthis400-acreorchard,andthethree-milealfalfatract,andthe200-acrepasture.SoJohnnyshookhandswithRosineascoollyasifhewereonlygoingtorunuptoMontgomeryforacoupleofdays.Theyhadtheroyalmannerwhentheychose,thoseAtwoods.
"Ifyouhappentostrikeanythinginthewayofagoodinvestmentdownthere,Johnny,"saidPinkDawson,"justletmeknow,willyou?IreckonIcouldlaymyhandsonafewextrathousands‘mostanytimeforaprofitabledeal."
"Certainly,Pink,"saidJohnny,pleasantly."IfIstrikeanythingofthesortI’llletyouinwithpleasure."
SoJohnnywentdowntoMobileandtookafruitsteamerforthecoastofAnchuria.
WhenthenewconsularrivedinCoraliothestrangenessofthescenesdivertedhimmuch.Hewasonlytwenty-two;andthegriefofyouthisnotwornlikeagarmentasitisbyoldermen.Ithasitsseasonswhenitreigns;andthenitisunseatedforatimebytheassertionofthekeensenses.
BillyKeoghandJohnnyseemedtoconceiveamutualfriendshipatonce.KeoghtookthenewconsulabouttownandpresentedhimtothehandfulofAmericansandthesmallernumberofFrenchandGermanswhomadeupthe"foreign"contingent.
