Американские боги

           ‘Ihavescarcelyenoughtimetocatchmytrain!Goodsir,whentheownerofthisinestimableinstrumentshouldreturn,pleasegivehimmycard,for,alas,Imustbeaway.’Andwiththat,Barringtonleaves,amanwhoknowsthattimeandthetrainwaitfornoman.

           "Minehostexaminestheviolin,curiosityminglingwithcupidityinhisveins,andaplanbeginstobubbleupthroughhismind.Buttheminutesgoby,andAbrahamdoesnotreturn.Andnowitislate,andthroughthedoor,shabbybutproud,comesourAbraham,ourfiddle-player,andheholdsinhishandsawallet,awalletthathasseenbetterdays,awalletthathasnevercontainedmorethanahundreddollarsonitsbestday,andfromithetakesthemoneytopayforhismealorhisstay,andheasksforthereturnofhisviolin.

           "Minehostputsthefiddleinitscaseonthecounter,andAbrahamtakesitlikeamothercradlingherchild.‘Tellme,’saysthehost(withtheengravedcardofamanwho’llpayfiftythousanddollars,goodcashmoney,burninginhisinsidebreastpocket),‘howmuchisaviolinlikethisworth?Formyniecehasayearningonhertoplaythefiddle,andit’sherbirthdaycomingupinaweekorso.’

           "‘Sellthisfiddle?’saysAbraham.‘Icouldneversellher.I’vehadherfortwentyyearsIhave,fiddledalloverthecountrywithher.Andtotellthetruth,shecostmealloffivehundreddollarsbackwhenIboughther.’

           "Minehostkeepsthesmilefromhisface.