Дневник незначительного лица
Chapter 21
Perkupp,Iwillworkdayandnighttoserveyou!”
Mr.Perkuppsaid:“Iknowyouwill.Now,whatIshouldlikeyoutodoisthis.YouyourselfmightwritetoMr.Crowbillon—youmustnot,ofcourse,leadhimtosupposeIknowanythingaboutyourdoingso—andexplaintohimthatyoursonwasonlytakenonasaclerk—quiteaninexperiencedoneinfact—outoftherespectthefirmhadforyou,Mr.Pooter.Thisis,ofcourse,afact.Idon’tsuggestthatyoushouldspeakintoostrongtermsofyourownson’sconduct;butIMayadd,thathadhebeenasonofmine,Ishouldhavecondemnedhisinterferencewithnomeasuredterms.ThatIleavetoyou.IthinktheresultwillbethatMr.Crowbillonwillseetheforceofthefoolishstephehastaken,andourfirmwillneithersufferindignitynorinpocket.”
IcouldnothelpthinkingwhatanoblegentlemanMr.Perkuppis.Hismannersandhiswayofspeakingseemtoalmostthrillonewithrespect.
Isaid:“WouldyouliketoseetheletterbeforeIsendit?”
Mr.Perkuppsaid:“Ohno!Ihadbetternot.Iamsupposedtoknownothingaboutit,andIhaveeveryconfidenceinyou.Youmustwritethelettercarefully.Wearenotverybusy;youhadbettertakethemorningtomorrow,orthewholedayifyoulike.Ishallbeheremyselfalldaytomorrow,infactalltheweek,incaseMr.Crowbillonshouldcall.”
Iwenthomealittlemorecheerful,butIleftwordwithSarahthatIcouldnotseeeitherGowingorCummings,norinfactanybody,iftheycalledintheevening.
