Королі та капуста
The Phonograph and the Graft
WhatmoneyIgetImakehonestandspendit.SomedayI’llmakeapileandgobackandeatcaviarewithBilly.To-nightI’llshowyouhowtohandleabunchofcorruptionists.I’llshowthemwhatMellinger,privatesecretary,meanswhenyouspellitwiththecottonandtissuepaperoff.’
"Mellingerappearsshaky,andbreakshisglassagainsttheneckofthebottle.
"Isaystomyself,‘Whiteman,ifI’mnotmistakenthere’sbeenabaitlaidoutwherethetailofyoureyecouldseeit.’
"Thatnight,accordingtoarrangements,meandHenrytookthephonographtoaroomina‘dobehouseinadirtysidestreet,wherethegrasswaskneehigh.’Twasalongroom,litwithsmokyoillamps.Therewasplentyofchairs,andatableatthebackend.Wesetthephonographonthetable.Mellingerwasthere,walkingupanddown,disturbedinhispredicaments.Hechewedcigarsandspat’emout,andhebitthethumbnailofhislefthand.
"Byandbytheinvitationstothemusicalecameslidinginbypairsandthreesandspadeflushes.Theircolourwasofadiversity,runningfromathree-days’smokedmeerschaumtoapatent-leatherpolish.Theywereaspoliteaswax,beingdevastatedwithenjoymentstogiveSeñorMellingerthegoodevenings.IunderstoodtheirSpanishtalk—IranapumpingenginetwoyearsinaMexicansilvermine,andhaditpat—butIneverleton.
"Maybefiftyof’emhadcome,andwasseated,wheninslidthekingbee,thegovernorofthedistrict.Mellingermethimatthedoor,andescortedhimtothegrandstand.
