Похититель трупов
Macfarlanecouldnotsuppressanervoustwitch,theinfinitesimalmarkofanimmenserelief,ashefeltthekeybetweenhisfingers. Heopenedthecupboard,broughtoutpenandinkandapaper-bookthatstoodinonecompartment,andseparatedfromthefundsinadrawerasumsuitabletotheoccasion.
‘Now,lookhere,’hesaid,‘thereisthepaymentmade—firstproofofyourgoodfaith: firststeptoyoursecurity. Youhavenowtoclinchitbyasecond. Enterthepaymentinyourbook,andthenyouforyourpartmaydefythedevil.’
ThenextfewsecondswereforFettesanagonyofthought;butinbalancinghisterrorsitwasthemostimmediatethattriumphed. AnyfuturedifficultyseemedalmostwelcomeifhecouldavoidapresentquarrelwithMacfarlane. Hesetdownthecandlewhichhehadbeencarryingallthistime,andwithasteadyhandenteredthedate,thenature,andtheamountofthetransaction.
‘Andnow,’saidMacfarlane,‘it’sonlyfairthatyoushouldpocketthelucre. I’vehadmysharealready. Bythebye,whenamanoftheworldfallsintoabitofluck,hasafewshillingsextrainhispocket—I’mashamedtospeakofit,butthere’saruleofconductinthecase. Notreating,nopurchaseofexpensiveclass-books,nosquaringofolddebts;borrow,don’tlend.’
‘Macfarlane,’beganFettes,stillsomewhathoarsely,‘Ihaveputmyneckinahaltertoobligeyou.’
‘Toobligeme?’criedWolfe. ‘Oh,come!Youdid,asnearasIcanseethematter,whatyoudownrighthadtodoinself—defence.
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