Королі та капуста
Money Maze
"Ofatruth,"testifiedEstebánbeforethemightysecretary,"itwashe,thepresident.Consider!—howcouldIshaveamanandnotseehisface?Hesentformetoshavehiminasmallhouse.Hehadabeardveryblackandthick.HadIeverseenthepresidentbefore?Whynot?IsawhimoncerideforthinacarriagefromthevaporinSolitas.WhenIshavedhimhegavemeagoldpiece,andsaidtherewastobenotalk.ButIamaLiberal—Iamdevotedtomycountry—andIspakeofthesethingstoSeñorGoodwin."
"Itisknown,"saidColonelFalcon,smoothly,"thatthelatePresidenttookwithhimanAmericanleathervalise,containingalargeamountofmoney.Didyouseethat?"
"Deveras—no,"Estebánanswered."ThelightinthelittlehousewasbutasmalllampbywhichIcouldscarcelyseetoshavethePresident.Suchathingtheremayhavebeen,butIdidnotseeit.No.Alsointheroomwasayounglady—aseñoritaofmuchbeauty—thatIcouldseeeveninsosmallalight.Butthemoney,señor,orthethinginwhichitwascarried—thatIdidnotsee."
Thecomandanteandotherofficersgavetestimonythattheyhadbeenawakenedandalarmedbythenoiseofapistol-shotintheHoteldelosEstranjeros.Hurryingthithertoprotectthepeaceanddignityoftherepublic,theyfoundamanlyingdead,withapistolclutchedinhishand.Besidehimwasayoungwoman,weepingsorely.SeñorGoodwinwasalsointheroomwhentheyenteredit.Butofthevaliseofmoneytheysawnothing.
