Королі та капуста
The Phonograph and the Graft
WhenIsawthatLatinmanIknewthatMellinger,privatesecretary,hadallthedancesonhiscardtaken.Thatwasabig,squashyman,thecolourofarubberovershoe,andhehadaneyelikeaheadwaiter’s.
"Mellingerexplained,fluent,intheCastilianidioms,thathissoulwasdisconcertedwithjoyatintroducingtohisrespectedfriendsAmerica’sgreatestinvention,thewonderoftheage.Henrygotthecueandrunonanelegantbrass-bandrecordandthefestivitiesbecameinitiated.ThegovernormanhadabitofEnglishunderhishat,andwhenthemusicwaschokedoffhesays:
"‘Ver-r-reefine.Gr-r-r-r-racias,theAmericangentleemen,thesoesplendeedmoosicastoplayee.’
"Thetablewasalongone,andHenryandmesatattheendofitnextthewall.Thegovernorsatattheotherend.HomerP.Mellingerstoodatthesideofit.IwasjustwonderinghowMellingerwasgoingtohandlehiscrowd,whenthehometalentsuddenlyopenedtheservices.
"Thatgovernormanwassuitableforuprisingsandpolicies.Ijudgehewasareadykindofman,whotookhisowntime.Yes,hewasfullofattentionandimmediateness.Heleanedhishandsonthetableandimposedhisfacetowardthesecretaryman.
"‘DotheAmericanseñorsunderstandSpanish?’heasksinhisnativeaccents.
"‘Theydonot,’saysMellinger.
"‘Thenlisten,’goesontheLatinman,prompt.‘Themusicsareofsufficientprettiness,butnotofnecessity.Letusspeakofbusiness.Iwellknowwhywearehere,sinceIobservemycompatriots.
