might
cloud the nectar of hope.

He donned a serious looking coat, long and black, and swept a broad
yellow sash across his chest. On his head rested a Manchu mandarin cap
purchased in Chinatown and revised with ornament suitable for the
insignia of the Soopreemest. About his waist was the equator part of a
Sam Brown belt, and from it dangled a Civil War cavalry sabre whose
scabbard had suffered two coats of gilt paint, not quite dry. He
retained his ordinary street shoes; life was a battle, and you never
could tell when the bugles of fate might blow recall. Street shoes came
in handy when there was any heavy running to be done.

In his uniform he addressed the herded investors. "Breth'rin, de books
is closed fo' de present week. All whut paid yistiddy gits dey money
back, 'long wid de same amout fo' intres' nex', Satidy mawnin'. Dem
whut pays de 'scriptions now gits de 'vestment an' de hund'ed per cent
intres' de Satidy afteh nex'. De books is now open, de gol' seal
c'tificates is ready. Fawm in line an' git yo' money ready.... Ten
dollahs, brotheh. Heah's yo' papeh. Now you is a Deppity Soopreem
Leadeh, 'titled to de red sash.... Nex' Satidy us 'lects de ten
Soopreem Gov'nors fo' de leadin' districts in de New Worl' African
Colony at Barzil. Boat leaves wid de 'ficials an' de p'visions nex'
month. 'Lection is by de lucky numbehs. Soopreem 'ficials gits a house
an' ten thousan' milrice--dat's Barzil dollahs--ev'y month to travel
roun' wid an' see is de distric' doin' O.K.... Fifteen dollahs--dat
'titles you to de Yaller Sash of Trust. Chances is you sho' will be a
Soopreem Gov'nor. Nex' brotheh...."

On the following Saturday Honey Tone managed to postpone the election
of the Soopreem Governors for the ten districts of the colony and to
sidestep the various vague promises that he had sown so lavishly
throughout the preceding two weeks, but in the department of finance
there was no evasion, short of flight, and in the white light that
forever beat about him escape for the moment was impossible. He sensed
the growing pyramid of final retribution and began to formulate plans
whereby the mantle of responsibility might be transferred to other
aspiring shoulders.

The cumulative financial problem was a simple matter of geometrical
progression, at the far end of which lay a solution consisting of
several quarts of blood. He faced a wire-edged razor, seeking a
gilt-edged dodge, and so far his brain had failed to formulate