That night in the coterie at the Casino, they were talking about Quentin.
A gentleman was reading the farewell article that Quentin had published in La Víbora under the title, “And this is the End.”
“Let’s hear it; let’s hear the end of it,” said several.
The gentleman began to read the ending. It went like this:
Adiós, Cordova, City of the Discreet, Mirror of the Prudent, Cross-roads of the Cunning, Nursery of the Sagacious, Encyclopedia of the Witty, Shelter of Those who Sleep in Straw, Cave of the Cautious, Conclave of the Ready-witted, Sanhedrim of the Moderate! Adiós, Cordova! And this is the end.
“Fine!” said some one with a laugh. “The fact is, Quentin is a very likable lad.”
“He’ll prosper.”
“Rather!”
“Some day he’ll be a deputy.”
“Or a minister.”