"Walter Jon Williams - The Crown Jewels" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Walter John)

"Your reproachful father,

"Ex-Domier, etc.

"P.S.: The maintenance on my coffin will be due in
two months. I hope I will not once again suffer the
embarrassment of its not being met in time."

There it was, both themes at once, and in detail: the
Cause, and old debt. Both interlinked for as long as Maijstrai
could remember.

He replaced the Very Private Letter in its envelope and
held it out to Roman. "Bum it, please," he said. Roman
moved silently toward the disposal. Maijstrai frowned and


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lapped his teeth with his diamond ring.

The debt to Lord Giddon was new to Maijstrai, but not
unexpected—old lenders turned up with fair frequency
these days. The parcels on Kapodistrias were hopelessly
mortgaged; Maijstral's father had done it himself years ago
and forgotten it since. His memory for money matters had
never been good; death had worsened his recollection-
There was no money for Maijstral's eleemosynary duties,
none for Lord Giddon, none for Maijstrai himself.

Maijstral's mode of life was expensive; his household
was small, but moving in the highest circles cost. He
-looked at his ring, held the stone up to the light. It was a
very good forgery; he'd pawned the real diamond two
months before in order to finance this journey. Not even
Roman knew the original stone was gone-

Perhaps he should take the Countess Anastasia's offer.

26 / WALTER JON WILLIAMS

He considered himself in that light: a pensioned dupe in a
hopeless cause, uttering sentiments in which he did not
believe. Someone, in short, very like his father.

No. Not that.

Roman returned with a glass of cold rink. Maijstral took
it and sipped thoughtfully.