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Chapter 6
“Theyhavegone.Iconvincedthemthatyouhadcrossedthehill.IdonotchoosethatthepoliceshouldcomebetweenmeandonewhomIamdelightedtohonour.Thisisaluckymorningforyou,MrRichardHannay.”
Ashespokehiseyelidsseemedtotrembleandtofallalittleoverhiskeengreyeyes.InaflashthephraseofScudder’scamebacktome,whenhehaddescribedthemanhemostdreadedintheworld.Hehadsaidthathe“couldhoodhiseyeslikeahawk”.ThenIsawthatIhadwalkedstraightintotheenemy’sheadquarters.
Myfirstimpulsewastothrottletheoldruffianandmakefortheopenair.Heseemedtoanticipatemyintention,forhesmiledgently,andnoddedtothedoorbehindme.Iturned,andsawtwomen-servantswhohadmecoveredwithpistols.
Heknewmyname,buthehadneverseenmebefore.AndasthereflectiondartedacrossmymindIsawaslenderchance.
“Idon’tknowwhatyoumean,”Isaidroughly.“AndwhoareyoucallingRichardHannay?Myname’sAinslie.”
“So?”hesaid,stillsmiling.“Butofcourseyouhaveothers.Wewon’tquarrelaboutaname.”
Iwaspullingmyselftogethernow,andIreflectedthatmygarb,lackingcoatandwaistcoatandcollar,wouldatanyratenotbetrayme.Iputonmysurliestfaceandshruggedmyshoulders.
“Isupposeyou’regoingtogivemeupafterall,andIcallitadamneddirtytrick.MyGod,IwishIhadneverseenthatcursedmotor-car!Here’sthemoneyandbedamnedtoyou,”andIflungfoursovereignsonthetable.
Heopenedhiseyesalittle.
