Американские боги
Chapter 9
‘Fivehundreddollars?WhatifIweretoofferyouathousanddollarsforit,hereandnow?’
"Thefiddleplayerlooksdelighted,thencrestfallen,andhesays,‘Butlordy,I’mafiddleplayer,sir,it’sallIknowhowtodo.Thisfiddleknowsmeandshelovesme,andmyfingersknowhersowellIcouldplayanairuponherinthedark.WherewillIfindanotherthatsoundssofine?Athousanddollarsisgoodmoney,butthisismylivelihood.Notathousanddollars,notforfivethousand."
"Minehostseeshisprofitsshrinking,butthisisbusiness,andyoumustspendmoneytomakemoney.‘Eightthousanddollars,’hesays.‘It’snotworththat,butI’vetakenafancytoit,andIdoloveandindulgemyniece.’
"Abrahamisalmostintearsatthethoughtoflosinghisbelovedfiddle,buthowcanhesaynotoeightthousanddollars?—especiallywhenminehostgoestothewallsafe,andremovesnoteightbutninethousanddollars,allneatlybandedandreadytobeslippedintothefiddleplayer’sthreadbarepocket.‘You’reagoodman,’hetellshishost.‘You’reasaint!Butyoumustsweartotakecareofmygirl!’and,reluctantly,hehandsoverhisviolin."
"ButwhatifminehostsimplyhandsoverBarrington’scardandtellsAbrahamthathe’scomeintosomegoodfortune?"askedShadow.
"Thenwe’reoutthecostoftwodinners,"saidWednesday.
