Chapter 3 Chapter Three A Talkative Guide
The next day, just after seven o'clock, after a loud imitation of bugles (something like an army reveille), the four-person house was filled with voices, shouts to be exact:
"Quick! . . . hi! . . . get out of bed . . . and on half time!" Pancina had just yelled.
Yvernay, the most free-spirited of the Quartet, prefers to crawl out of the warm covers of his bed in three-quarters, or even four-quarters.However, he had to keep up with his companions, so he changed from a horizontal position to a vertical one.
"We can't waste time, not even a minute!" "His Royal Highness" reminded.
"Yes," agreed Sebastian Zorno, "because tomorrow we have to reach Santiago."
"Well then!" said Yvernay, "half a day is enough to visit the city that the good American said."
"It amazes me," added Frascoran, "that there is a great city near Flecher! How did our coachman forget to tell us?"
"So what! The most important thing is that we can reach this city, my old soprano," said Pancina. "Besides, we have already arrived!"
Sunlight pours in through two large windows looking up a pretty tree lined street for a mile away.
In a comfortable bathroom, the four friends began to freshen up.It is fast and convenient to do this, because it has been "armed" with the most modern and complete equipment: faucets that can gradually adjust the temperature of cold and hot water, washbasins that automatically turn over to drain water, bath heaters, Electric irons, atomizers for spraying perfume at any time as required, electric fans, and various mechanically driven brushes. Some of these brushes are used for grooming and grooming. , can play the role of scrubbing or waxing.
Also, not counting the clocks and the electric lights that can be turned on at the touch of the hand, there are electric bells and telephones in many places, and you can contact all departments of the hotel at any time.
Therefore, Sebastian Zorno and his companions could not only talk to the hotel, but also use this communication tool to talk to various districts of the city, who knows, (this is Pancina's opinion) You can also make calls to any city in the United States.
"You can even communicate with the old and new continents!" Yvernay added.
Before they had time to try to see if they could get through, at 7:40, the following English words came on the phone: "Calistus Membal would like to say good morning to each of the distinguished members of the 'Quartet' , and please go downstairs to the dining room of the Camry Hotel after you are ready, where breakfast has been prepared for you."
"The Hotel Carmel!" said Yvernay, "that's a very interesting name!"
"Callisters Membal must be the name of our good American," Pancina observed. "What a name!"
"Friends," cried the cellist, whose stomach was as overbearing as his own, and could no longer contain it, "since the meal is served, let's go and eat, and then..."
"Then... let's take a tour of the city." Frascoran answered, "Who knows what this city looks like?"
By this time some of our Parisians were fully dressed and the rest were almost ready, so Pancina answered by telephone that in five minutes they would have the honor of being invited to the restaurant by Monsieur Callistus Monbal meal.
Indeed, as soon as they finished grooming, they headed for the elevator.The elevator moves, taking them to the stunning hotel lobby.In the depths of the hall, the door of the dining room was wide open, and inside was a magnificent and spacious hall.
"I am at your service, gentlemen, with great pleasure!"
The person who just said such a long string of words is the same person from last night.He's one of those "acquaintances" kind of people.Doesn't it seem like you've known them for a long time?Or more accurately, didn't I know them "always"?
Callistus Membal was probably in his fifties or sixties, but looked no more than forty-five.He is above average in stature, with a slightly protruding belly and thick limbs.His body is strong, energetic, and his actions are firm. To put it vividly, he can be described as "vigorous and fresh".
This kind of person is not uncommon in the United States, and Sebastian Zorno and his friends have encountered it many times.Callistus Membal's head was large and round, with curly hair still blond and quivering like a tuft of leaves blown by a breeze; his complexion was very red; Divided into a triangular shape; the mustache is clean-shaven, the corners of the mouth are slightly turned up, as if smiling all the time, and it is a mocking smile; a mouthful of white and shiny teeth are like ivory; the nose is firmly set under the forehead, and the tip of the nose is slightly He looked fat and his nostrils were always moving. A pair of pince-nez mirrors were mounted on the bridge of his nose with two vertical stripes, connected to the pince-nez mirrors by an exquisite and soft silver chain like a silk thread.Behind the lens, the dripping eyes are shining, and the dark green iridescent pupils are piercing.A bull-like neck connects the head to the shoulders.The torso is squarely supported on the fleshy legs, the legs stand firmly, and the feet are slightly turned outwards to form a figure of eight.
Callistus Membal was wearing a very baggy tan denim jacket.From the small breast pocket protruded a handkerchief with a small floral ornament on the corner.The snow-white vest was cut into a large arc with three gold buttons on it.Between the two pockets hung a thick chain in an arc, with a watch on one end and a pedometer on the other, not to mention the jingling trinkets adorning the middle of the chain.Finally, with the row of rings on his fat ruddy fingers, the introduction of gold and silver ornaments on his whole body is complete.His shirt was spotless white, starched and shiny, and studded with three diamonds.A tie with a simple gold-brown strip is imperceptibly fastened beneath the large lapel.The trousers were of striped fabric with wide creases and thinner legs that hung down to the high-top shoes fastened with aluminum buckles.
As for the appearance of this Yankee, it can be said that it is the most expressive place. No matter what it is, it is hung on the face. As people say, it is the appearance of a confident and "experienced" person.Needless to say, nothing can hinder him; moreover, nothing can wear him down, this point can be seen by looking at his strong muscles, eyebrows with throbbing eyebrows and chewing muscles that are always twitching.Last but not least, he always laughed out loud, though his laugh came more out of his nose than his mouth, like a sneer, or what physiologists would call a horse's bray.
This Callistus Membal was such a man. As soon as the "Quartet" entered the dining room, he immediately raised his wide-brimmed hat not inferior to the feather hat of Louis XIII.After shaking hands with each of the four artists, he led them to a table with a boiling pot of tea and steaming slices of toast, made in the traditional way .He babbled on and on, and would not allow anyone to speak at all--perhaps to avoid questions and avoid answers.He bragged about the beauty of his city, and the extraordinary construction of it; and whether anyone listened or not, he kept on eloquently, until the meal was over, and ended his tirade with these words:
"Come on, gentlemen, please follow me. However, one thing needs to be reminded..."
"That point?" asked Frascolin.
"Spitting is absolutely prohibited on our streets."
"We don't have that habit," Yvernay retorted.
"Very good! . . . Then you won't be fined!"
"Not spitting...in America?" Pancina whispered in a tone of surprise and suspicion.
It would be hard to find a more comprehensive host-guide than Callistus Membal.He knew the city like the back of his hand: there was no innkeeper whose name he could not pronounce; no house whose inhabitants he did not know;
The city was built in a special way.All the intersections of roads and streets are vertically intersected at a 90-degree angle, like a chessboard, and there are eaves above the sidewalks.From the perspective of overall planning, the layout of the city is highly unified and tidy, but there is no shortage of changes.The architectural style of each house is as unregulated as its internal facilities, which are completely designed by the architect according to his own rich imagination.Except for a few commercial streets, the rest of the houses have the style of a royal palace. There are beautiful and elegant pavilions on both sides of the main courtyard. The layout of the front buildings makes people guess the luxury of the rooms, not to mention It is said that there is a garden as big as a park behind the house.It is worth noting, however, that the trees were undoubtedly recently planted, and that they were not yet fully grown.The situation is the same in the street garden at the intersection of the main traffic arteries in the city. The newly laid lawn is still very fresh, and the mixed temperate and tropical flowers and trees on it have not yet absorbed enough plant nutrients from the soil.Therefore, this feature of nature shows that it forms a strong contrast with the situation of tall forests growing in the vicinity of the major cities of California in the western United States.
The "quartet" walked ahead of the Americans, observing this neighborhood of the city.Each of them sees it in a different way, what fascinates Yvernay has no effect on Frascolin, what interests Sebastian Zorno finds Pancina unremarkable, in short, all Everyone has a strong curiosity about this mysterious and strange city.Through their different observations, gradually found all the noteworthy places.Besides, Callistus Membal was at their side and could answer all their questions.Where can I get any answer! … He never waited for anyone to ask a question, he talked and talked, and he had to talk because there was nothing to stop him.His two mouths are like chatterboxes, once opened they cannot be closed.
After a quarter of an hour's walk from the Camry Hotel, Callistus Membal said:
"We're on Third Avenue now. There are 30 of them in the city. This one is the busiest commercial street, our Broadway, our Regent Street, our Italian Way. In these shops and markets, There are both luxury goods and daily necessities for sale, and everything needed for the most comfortable and comfortable modern life is available here!"
"I did see the store," Pancina noted, "but I didn't see any customers..."
"Maybe it's a little early?" Yvernay asked himself.
"That's because most of the shopping is done by phone or even by fax," Callistus Membal replied.
"What does that mean?" asked Frascolin.
"What that means is that we generally use the fax machine here, which is a perfect instrument for transmitting words as the telephone transmits words. Don't forget that a video camera is for recording movements and seeing them for eyes, and a gramophone is for Listening by ear, while fax is to send images or receive images from other places. This kind of fax machine is much more reliable than ordinary telegrams, because anyone can impersonate or alter the telegrams. With the fax machine, we can sign checks or money orders by electric current." "Even a marriage certificate?" Pancina asked sarcastically.
"Of course, Mr. Viola. Why can't you use the telegraph wire for marriage..." "And divorce?"
"Including divorce! ... It's even said that this is what our machines are most often used for!"
At this point, the tour guide laughed loudly, and even all the gadgets on his vest began to vibrate with their tinkling.
"Mr. Menbal, you are so funny." Pancina was infected by the Americans, and also laughed.
"Yes..., I am very happy!"
Walking here, a road with heavy traffic lay in front of their eyes.This is 19th Avenue.On both sides of the avenue, all kinds of commercial activities have disappeared.As elsewhere, the main road is criss-crossed by tram tracks.A car sped by without kicking up a speck of dust, and it turned out that the road was covered with a floor that never decayed, made of Australian Calipine and Janla wood (why not Brazilian mahogany Woolen cloth?).The whole floor was as clean as if it had been wiped with sawdust.At this time, Frascolan, who was very attentive to physical phenomena, discovered that this kind of ground was like a metal plate, and it would make a metal-like sound when stepped on.
"Look at those great blacksmiths!" he said to himself, "now they're laying iron roads!"
He was about to ask Callistus Membal, when the latter suddenly cried out:
"Gentlemen, look at this mansion!"
As he spoke, he pointed to a tall building with a majestic appearance.Its two sides protrude forward, a row of aluminum fences are planted in front, and a wide courtyard is formed in the middle. "This mansion can be said to be a palace. There are several prominent families in this city, and one of them lives here. This The owner of the house is James Tanken, who owns the inexhaustible oil fields of Illinois. He is probably the richest man in town, and therefore the most respected and most respectable of our citizens. people."
"Is he worth millions?" asked Sebastian Zorno.
"Ah!" Callistus Membal said disapprovingly, "What is a million! For us, this is the most common unit, and you must know that here are all calculated by hundreds of millions! All the people living in this city He is a very wealthy man. This is the reason why businessmen in the business district can make a fortune in just a few years. Oh, I am talking about retailers here, because, in this unique In the small world, there is no big wholesaler or small middleman."
"And the industrialists?" Pancina asked.
"Industrialists, no!"
"Is there always a great captain?" asked Frascorin.
"No more!"
"These are pensioners, then?" Sebastian Zorno asked.
"That's right, there is no one except those who have annuity income and those who are saving annuity!" "Oh? And what about the workers?" Yvernay noticed.
"Gentlemen, when you need workmen, you look elsewhere. They go back as soon as the work is done. . . with a lot of money, of course!"
"Well, Monsieur Monbar," said Frascolin, "you must have some poor people in your town, if only to keep them from becoming extinct?"
"Poor people? Mr. Second Fiddle...? You won't see any of them!"
"So, begging is prohibited here?"
"It was never necessary to ban begging, because beggars can't get into the city. It suffices to stay in the cities of America, where there are asylums, almshouses, workhouses... and reformatory schools as a supplement. "
"You mean to say there isn't even a prison here?"
"We don't imprison anyone."
"But what about criminals?"
"Please stay in the Old World and the New World. For them, the environment there is more favorable, and their hobbies can be fully developed."
"Ah! Indeed, Mr. Menbar," said Sebastian Zorno, "it seems to you that we are not in America anymore?"
"You were in America yesterday, Mr. Cello," replied the always surprising guide.
"Yesterday?" asked Frascolin, wondering to himself what this strange remark meant.
"Of course! Today you are in a separate city, standing in a free land. America has no rights here. This city belongs to itself alone."
"Its name is...?" Sebastian Zorno asked, his naturally fiery temper beginning to show.
"Its name?" said Callistus Membal. "Excuse me, but I will not say it for the time being."
"Then when will we find out?"
"After you have visited the city, besides, it will be a great honor for this city to receive distinguished guests like you."
This American hesitation seems odd to say the least.However, this is not a problem.Anyway, before noon, this strange walk will be over.Besides, the name of the city must be known only when they leave the city. For them, that's enough, isn't it?The only thing to consider at the moment is this: An important city occupying a piece of land on the California coast is not part of the United States of America?On the other hand, how is it that the coachman dared not mention it?After all, the players will be in Santiago in 24 hours, and even if Callistus Membal doesn't intend to reveal the mystery, someone else will tell them by then, and that's the main thing.
The weirdo once again opened up the chatterbox and introduced him eloquently.It can be seen that he has no intention of explaining the topic just now.
"Gentlemen," he said, "we are now at the intersection of Thirty-seventh Avenue. Please take a good look at this delightful sight! This block also has no shops, no markets, and no transactions of the kind that characterize the high street." Activities. There's nothing here but big mansions and private homes. Only, the people on this block don't have as much money as the people who live on Nineteenth Avenue. Their annuities are like 10-12 million..."
"Why, is this a poor man?" Pansina interjected, his lips pursed meaningfully.
"Well, Monsieur Viola," argued Callistes Monbal, "depending on how you say it, you may be poor compared to other people! A millionaire with a million francs compared to a man with a hundred thousand francs." People are considered rich. But in front of billionaires, he can only be regarded as poor!"
It has been many times, and our artists should have noticed that their guides say so many things, but the most frequent word is "millions".This is simply a very tempting word!Every time he said it, his cheeks were always bulging, and his voice had a metallic sound.As if instead of talking, he was making money. , what came out of his mouth were gold coins, if not diamonds.
Sebastian Zorno, Pancina, Frascolin and Yvernay have been wandering in this strange city that they still don't know the name of.The few streets here are full of pedestrians and bustling.All were well dressed, and there was no poor man in rags in sight.There are trams, electric flat cars and electric four-wheelers everywhere.Some major traffic arteries have movable sidewalks, which are pulled by an endless chain.Walking on it is like walking on a moving train, with the body swaying with its movement.
There are also trams coming and going on the road.They rolled on the driveway as silently as billiard balls on the green baize of a pool table.As for those splendid vehicles, in other words, horse-drawn sedans, you can only come across the neighborhoods where the richest people live.
"Ah! Here's a church!" said Frascolin.
Then, he pointed to a building with a rather bulky structure.A styleless building, like Savoy's dough, stood in the middle of a grassy clearing.
"This is the Church of Christ," said Callistus Monbal, stopping in front of the building.
"Do you have a Catholic church in your city?" Yvernay asked.
"Yes, sir. Besides, I should remind you that although there are a thousand different religions practiced on our planet, we have only Catholics and Protestants here. This is not the case in America, where if If there is no political division in those federal states, there are religious divisions, where there are as many denominations as there are families, such as Methodists, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Baptists, Wesleyans, etc. Here we are , either Calvinistic Christians, or Roman Catholics, and never the other denominations."
"So, what language do people speak?"
"Usually speak English and French."
"You should be congratulated on that," Pancina said.
"Thus, the city is divided into two more or less equal districts," continued Callistus Monbal, "and now we are in..."
"I think it's the West End?" Frascoran said while looking at the position of the sun to determine his bearings.
"West District...you can think so..."
"Why... I think so?..." The second violinist asked back, he was very surprised by the American's answer, "Could it be that the location of this city is not fixed, it depends on everyone's will Variety?"
"Yes . . . or no . . . " stammered Callistus Membal, "I'll explain to you later. Let's come back to this district now! West End—if you like, Let's say it's the West End.--It's all Christians, and even here they're so practical. But the Catholics are different, more spiritual, more tasteful, and they occupy the... East End. Now you will understand that this church is the Church of Christ."
"It looks very similar." Yvernay observed, "The building is so bulky, and the prayers made in it must not go to heaven, but go to hell..."
"Well said!" Pancina exclaimed loudly, "Mr. Monbar, in such a modern city, there is no doubt that it is possible to hear a sermon or a mass by telephone?"
"good."
"Then is it possible to make a confession?"
"Exactly, it's no different than getting married by telex, so you have to admit, it's all very practical..."
"It's unbelievable, Monsieur Monbar," said Pancina, "it's a fantasy!"
Notes:
Notes: