Короли и капуста
The Remnants of the Code
"Theselettersmaywaityetawhile."
Thesecretaryreturnedtohiscigaretteunderthemangotree.
"Inroundnumbers,"saidGoodwin,facingBlythesquarely,"howmuchmoneydoyouoweinthistown,notincludingthesumsyouhave‘borrowed’fromme?"
"Fivehundred—ataroughguess,"answeredBlythe,lightly.
"Gosomewhereinthetownanddrawupascheduleofyourdebts,"saidGoodwin."Comebackhereintwohours,andIwillsendManuelwiththemoneytopaythem.Iwillalsohaveadecentoutfitofclothingreadyforyou.YouwillsailontheArielatthree.Manuelwillaccompanyyouasfarasthedeckofthesteamer.Therehewillhandyouonethousanddollarsincash.Isupposethatweneedn’tdiscusswhatyouwillbeexpectedtodoinreturn."
"Oh,Iunderstand,"pipedBlythe,cheerily."IwasasleepallthetimeonthecotunderMadamaOrtiz’sorangetrees;andIshakeoffthedustofCoralioforever.I’llplayfair.Nomoreofthelotusforme.YourpropositionisO.K.You’reagoodfellow,Goodwin;andIletyouofflight.I’llagreetoeverything.Butinthemeantime—I’veadevilofathirston,oldman—"
"Notacentavo,"saidGoodwin,firmly,"untilyouareonboardtheAriel.Youwouldbedrunkinthirtyminutesifyouhadmoneynow."
Buthenoticedtheblood-streakedeyeballs,therelaxedformandtheshakinghandsof"Beelzebub;"andhesteppedintothediningroomthroughthelowwindow,andbroughtoutaglassandadecanterofbrandy
