Короли и капуста

           Nodoubtsomepassengerwithasailingpermitfromsomeup-the-coastpointhadcomedowninthisslooptocatchtheregularfruitsteameronitsreturntrip.Likeacoquettishpigeonthelittleboattackedonitseccentricwayuntilatlastitswhitesailwaslosttosightagainstthelargerbulkofthefruiter’sside.

           "That’soldH.P.Mellinger,"explainedKeogh,droppingbackintohischair."He’sgoingbacktoNewYork.Hewasprivatesecretaryofthelatehot-footpresidentofthisgroceryandfruitstandthattheycallacountry.Hisjob’sovernow;andIguessoldMellingerisglad."

           "Whydoeshedisappeartomusic,likeZo-zo,themagicqueen?"askedJohnny."Justtoshow’emthathedoesn’tcare?"

           "Thatnoiseyouheardisaphonograph,"saidKeogh."Isoldhimthat.Mellingerhadagraftinthiscountrythatwastheonlythingofitskindintheworld.Thetootingmachinesaveditforhimonce,andhealwayscarrieditaroundwithhimafterward."

           "Tellmeaboutit,"demandedJohnny,betrayinginterest.

           "I’mnodisseminatorofnarratives,"saidKeogh."Icanuselanguageforpurposesofspeech;butwhenIattemptadiscoursethewordscomeoutastheywill,andtheymaymakesensewhentheystriketheatmosphere,ortheymaynot."

           "Iwanttohearaboutthatgraft,"persistedJohnny."You’vegotnorighttorefuse.I’vetoldyouallabouteveryman,womanandhitchingpostinDalesburg."

           "Youshallhearit,"saidKeogh."Isaidmyinstinctsofnarrativewereperplexed.Don’tyoubelieveit