Трое в лодке не считая собаки
Chapter 19
Welookeduptheriveranddowntheriver;notasoulwasinsight!
Twentyminuteslater,threefigures,followedbyashamed-lookingdog,mighthavebeenseencreepingstealthilyfromtheboat-houseatthe"Swan"towardstherailwaystation,dressedinthefollowingneitherneatnorgaudycostume:
Blackleathershoes,dirty;suitofboatingflannels,verydirty;brownfelthat,muchbattered;mackintosh,verywet;umbrella.
WehaddeceivedtheboatmanatPangbourne. Wehadnothadthefacetotellhimthatwewererunningawayfromtherain. Wehadlefttheboat,andallitcontained,inhischarge,withinstructionsthatitwastobereadyforusatninethenextmorning. If,wesaid—ifanythingunforeseenshouldhappen,preventingourreturn,wewouldwritetohim.
WereachedPaddingtonatseven,anddrovedirecttotherestaurantIhavebeforedescribed,wherewepartookofalightmeal,leftMontmorency,togetherwithsuggestionsforasuppertobereadyathalf-pastten,andthencontinuedourwaytoLeicesterSquare.
WeattractedagooddealofattentionattheAlhambra. OnourpresentingourselvesatthepayboxweweregrufflydirectedtogoroundtoCastleStreet,andwereinformedthatwewerehalf-an-hourbehindourtime.
Weconvincedtheman,withsomedifficulty,thatwewerenot"theworld-renownedcontortionistsfromtheHimalayaMountains,"andhetookourmoneyandletuspass.
Insidewewereastillgreatersuccess.
