-
Главная
-
- Книги
-
- Авторы
-
- О. Генри
-
- Короли и капуста
-
- Стр. 116/130
Для того чтобы воспользоваться озвучкой предложений, необходимо
Войти или зарегистрироваться
Озвучка предложений доступна при наличии PRO-доступа
Купить PRO-доступ
But
the
most
impolitic
of
the
administration
's
moves
had
been
when
it
antagonized
the
Vesuvius
Fruit
Company
,
an
organization
plying
twelve
steamers
and
with
a
cash
capital
somewhat
larger
than
Anchuria
's
surplus
and
debt
combined
.
Reasonably
an
established
concern
like
the
Vesuvius
would
become
irritated
at
having
a
small
,
retail
republic
with
no
rating
at
all
attempt
to
squeeze
it
.
So
when
the
government
proxies
applied
for
a
subsidy
they
encountered
a
polite
refusal
.
The
president
at
once
retaliated
by
clapping
an
export
duty
of
one
real
per
bunch
on
bananas
--
a
thing
unprecedented
in
fruit-growing
countries
.
The
Vesuvius
Company
had
invested
large
sums
in
wharves
and
plantations
along
the
Anchurian
coast
,
their
agents
had
erected
fine
homes
in
the
towns
where
they
had
their
headquarters
,
and
heretofore
had
worked
with
the
republic
in
good-will
and
with
advantage
to
both
.
It
would
lose
an
immense
sum
if
compelled
to
move
out
.
The
selling
price
of
bananas
from
Vera
Cruz
to
Trinidad
was
three
reals
per
bunch
.
This
new
duty
of
one
real
would
have
ruined
the
fruit
growers
in
Anchuria
and
have
seriously
discommoded
the
Vesuvius
Company
had
it
declined
to
pay
it
.
But
for
some
reason
,
the
Vesuvius
continued
to
buy
Anchurian
fruit
,
paying
four
reals
for
it
;
and
not
suffering
the
growers
to
bear
the
loss
.
This
apparent
victory
deceived
His
Excellency
;
and
he
began
to
hunger
for
more
of
it
.
He
sent
an
emissary
to
request
a
conference
with
a
representative
of
the
fruit
company
.
The
Vesuvius
sent
Mr.
Franzoni
,
a
little
,
stout
,
cheerful
man
,
always
cool
,
and
whistling
airs
from
Verdi
's
operas
.
Señor
Espirition
,
of
the
office
of
the
Minister
of
Finance
,
attempted
the
sandbagging
in
behalf
of
Anchuria
.
The
meeting
took
place
in
the
cabin
of
the
Salvador
,
of
the
Vesuvius
line
.
Señor
Espirition
opened
negotiations
by
announcing
that
the
government
contemplated
the
building
of
a
railroad
to
skirt
the
alluvial
coast
lands
.
After
touching
upon
the
benefits
such
a
road
would
confer
upon
the
interests
of
the
Vesuvius
,
he
reached
the
definite
suggestion
that
a
contribution
to
the
road
's
expenses
of
,
say
,
fifty
thousand
pesos
would
not
be
more
than
an
equivalent
to
benefits
received
.
Mr.
Franzoni
denied
that
his
company
would
receive
any
benefits
from
a
contemplated
road
.
As
its
representative
he
must
decline
to
contribute
fifty
thousand
pesos
.
But
he
would
assume
the
responsibility
of
offering
twenty-five
.
Did
Señor
Espirition
understand
Señor
Franzoni
to
mean
twenty-five
thousand
pesos
?
By
no
means
.
Twenty-five
pesos
.
And
in
silver
;
not
in
gold
.
"
Your
offer
insults
my
government
,
"
cried
Señor
Espirition
,
rising
with
indignation
.
