He mocked the airs with which the man rode,
and his princely greetings. He mocked the man cleverly, and Armandy laughed and
repeated what he said, and made him drink a little of her wine as a reward.
Mike had been drinking whiskey, and he did not like wine anyway, but this was
not the moment in which to refuse such an invitation.
The author of the acknowledged classic The Ox-Bow Incident provides
this knowing tale of the land and the men and women in it. It is far from
formulary, and likely made the 100 Best List by dint of its craft.
It is melancholic, short and worth the time of thoughtful readers.
