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Chapter 6
“Ohno,Ishallnotgiveyouup.MyfriendsandIwillhavealittleprivatesettlementwithyou,thatisall.Youknowalittletoomuch,MrHannay.Youareacleveractor,butnotquitecleverenough.”
Hespokewithassurance,butIcouldseethedawningofadoubtinhismind.
“Oh,forGod’ssakestopjawing,”Icried.“Everything’sagainstme.Ihaven’thadabitoflucksinceIcameonshoreatLeith.What’stheharminapoordevilwithanemptystomachpickingupsomemoneyhefindsinabust-upmotor-car?That’sallIdone,andforthatI’vebeenchivviedfortwodaysbythoseblastedbobbiesoverthoseblastedhills.ItellyouI’mfairsickofit.Youcandowhatyoulike,oldboy!NedAinslie’sgotnofightleftinhim.”
Icouldseethatthedoubtwasgaining.
“Willyouobligemewiththestoryofyourrecentdoings?”heasked.
“Ican’t,guv’nor,”Isaidinarealbeggar’swhine.“I’venothadabitetoeatfortwodays.Givemeamouthfuloffood,andthenyou’llhearGod’struth.”
Imusthaveshowedmyhungerinmyface,forhesignalledtooneofthemeninthedoorway.Abitofcoldpiewasbroughtandaglassofbeer,andIwolfedthemdownlikeapig—orrather,likeNedAinslie,forIwaskeepingupmycharacter.InthemiddleofmymealhespokesuddenlytomeinGerman,butIturnedonhimafaceasblankasastonewall.
ThenItoldhimmystory—howIhadcomeoffanArchangelshipatLeithaweekago,andwasmakingmywayoverlandtomybrotheratWigtown.
