Американские боги

           Butawell-dressedgentleman,onlyjustdonewithhisowndinner,hasbeenobservingthisexchange,andnowheapproachesourhost:couldhe,perchance,inspecttheviolinthathonestAbrahamleftbehind?

           "Certainlyhecan.Ourhosthandsitover,andthewell-dressedman—letuscallhimBarrington—openshismouthwide,thenremembershimselfandclosesit,examinestheviolinreverentially,likeamanwhohasbeenpermittedintoaholysanctumtoexaminethebonesofaprophet.‘Why,’hesays,‘thisis—itmustbe—no,itcannotbe—butyes,thereitis—mylord!Butthisisunbelievable!"andhepointstothemaker’smark,onastripofbrowningpaperinsidetheviolin—butstill,hesays,evenwithoutithewouldhaveknownitbythecolorofthevarnish,bythescroll,bytheshape.

           "NowBarringtonreachesinsidehispocketandproducesanengravedbusinesscard,proclaiminghimtobeapreeminentdealerinrareandantiquemusicalinstruments.‘Sothisviolinisrare?’asksminehost.‘Indeeditis,’saysBarrington,stilladmiringitwithawe,‘andworthinexcessofahundredthousanddollars,unlessImissmyguess.EvenasadealerinsuchthingsIwouldpayfifty—no,seventy-fivethousanddollars,goodcashmoneyforsuchanexquisitepiece.IhaveamanontheWestCoastwhowouldbuyittomorrow,sightunseen,withonetelegram,andpaywhateverIaskedforit.’Andthenheconsultshiswatch,andhisfacefalls.‘Mytrain—’hesays.