Короли и капуста
Two Recalls
Truly,theflowerofhismanhoodhadgonetoseed—seedthat,perhaps,nosoilmightsprout.Buttherewerestillcross-cutsalongwherehetravelledthroughwhichhemightyetregainthepathwayofusefulnesswithoutdisturbingtheslumberingMiracles.Thismanwasshortandcompactlybuilt.Hehadanoblique,deadeye,likethatofasting-ray,andthemoustacheofacocktailmixer.Weknowtheeyeandthemoustache;weknowthatSmithoftheluxuriousyacht,thegorgeousraiment,themysteriousmission,themagicdisappearance,hascomeagain,thoughshornoftheaccessoriesofhisformerstate.
Athisthirdbanana,themanwiththenoseglassesspatitfromhimwithashudder.
"Deucetakeallfruit!"heremarked,inapatriciantoneofdisgust."Ilivedfortwoyearswherethesethingsgrow.Thememoryoftheirtastelingerswithyou.Theorangesarenotsobad.Justseeifyoucangatheracoupleofthem,O’Day,whenthenextbrokencratecomesup."
"Didyoulivedownwiththemonkeys?"askedtheother,madetepidlygarrulousbythesunshineandthealleviatingmealofjuicyfruit."Iwasdownthere,oncemyself.Butonlyforafewhours.ThatwaswhenIwaswiththeColumbiaDetectiveAgency.Themonkeypeopledidmeup.I’dhavemyjobyetifithadn’tbeenforthem.I’lltellyouaboutit.
"Onedaythechiefsentanotearoundtotheofficethatread:‘SendO’Dayhereatonceforabigpieceofbusiness.’Iwasthecrackdetectiveoftheagencyatthattime.Theyalwayshandedmethebigjobs.
