Тридцать девять ступеней

           “Afugitivefromjustice,eh?Well,we’llgointothematteratourleisure.MeantimeIobjecttomyprivacybeingbrokeninuponbytheclumsyruralpoliceman.Gointomystudy,andyouwillseetwodoorsfacingyou.Taketheoneontheleftandcloseitbehindyou.Youwillbeperfectlysafe.”

           Andthisextraordinarymantookuphispenagain.

           IdidasIwasbid,andfoundmyselfinalittledarkchamberwhichsmeltofchemicals,andwaslitonlybyatinywindowhighupinthewall.Thedoorhadswungbehindmewithaclicklikethedoorofasafe.OnceagainIhadfoundanunexpectedsanctuary.

           AllthesameIwasnotcomfortable.Therewassomethingabouttheoldgentlemanwhichpuzzledandratherterrifiedme.Hehadbeentooeasyandready,almostasifhehadexpectedme.Andhiseyeshadbeenhorriblyintelligent.

           Nosoundcametomeinthatdarkplace.ForallIknewthepolicemightbesearchingthehouse,andiftheydidtheywouldwanttoknowwhatwasbehindthisdoor.Itriedtopossessmysoulinpatience,andtoforgethowhungryIwas.

           ThenItookamorecheerfulview.Theoldgentlemancouldscarcelyrefusemeameal,andIfelltoreconstructingmybreakfast.Baconandeggswouldcontentme,butIwantedthebetterpartofaflitchofbaconandhalfahundredeggs.Andthen,whilemymouthwaswateringinanticipation,therewasaclickandthedoorstoodopen.

           Iemergedintothesunlighttofindthemasterofthehousesittinginadeeparmchairintheroomhecalledhisstudy,andregardingmewithcuriouseyes.

           “Havetheygone?”Iasked.