Американские боги
Chapter 9
Youcanalwayscheatanhonestman,butittakesmorework.So.Weareinahotel,oraninn,orafinerestaurant,and,diningthere,wefindaman—shabby,butshabbygenteel,notdown-at-heelbutcertainlydownonhisluck.WeshallcallhimAbraham.Andwhenthetimecomestosettlehisbill—notahugebill,youunderstand,fifty,seventy-fivedollars—anembarrassment!Whereishiswallet?GoodLord,hemusthaveleftitatafriend’s,notfaraway.Heshallgoandobtainhiswalletforthwith!Buthere,minehost,saysAbraham,takethisoldfiddleofmineforsecurity.It’sold,asyoucansee,butit’showImakemyliving."
Wednesday’ssmilewhenhesawthewaitressapproachingwashugeandpredatory."Ah,thehotchocolate!BroughttomebymyChristmasAngel!Tellme,mydear,couldIhavesomemoreofyourdeliciousbreadwhenyougetamoment?"
Thewaitress—whatwasshe,Shadowwondered:sixteen,seventeen?—lookedatthefloorandhercheeksflushedcrimson.Sheputdownthechocolatewithshakinghandsandretreatedtotheedgeoftheroom,bytheslowlyrotatingdisplayofpies,whereshestoppedandstaredatWednesday.Thensheslippedintothekitchen,tofetchWednesdayhisbread.
"So.Theviolin—old,unquestionably,perhapsevenalittlebattered—isplacedawayinitscase,andourtemporarilyimpecuniousAbrahamsetsoffinsearchofhiswallet.
