Викрадач трупів

           Macfarlanecouldnotsuppressanervoustwitch,theinfinitesimalmarkofanimmenserelief,ashefeltthekeybetweenhisfingers. Heopenedthecupboard,broughtoutpenandinkandapaper-bookthatstoodinonecompartment,andseparatedfromthefundsinadrawerasumsuitabletotheoccasion. 

           ‘Now,lookhere,’hesaid,‘thereisthepaymentmade—firstproofofyourgoodfaith: firststeptoyoursecurity. Youhavenowtoclinchitbyasecond. Enterthepaymentinyourbook,andthenyouforyourpartmaydefythedevil.’ 

           ThenextfewsecondswereforFettesanagonyofthought;butinbalancinghisterrorsitwasthemostimmediatethattriumphed. AnyfuturedifficultyseemedalmostwelcomeifhecouldavoidapresentquarrelwithMacfarlane. Hesetdownthecandlewhichhehadbeencarryingallthistime,andwithasteadyhandenteredthedate,thenature,andtheamountofthetransaction. 

           ‘Andnow,’saidMacfarlane,‘it’sonlyfairthatyoushouldpocketthelucre. I’vehadmysharealready. Bythebye,whenamanoftheworldfallsintoabitofluck,hasafewshillingsextrainhispocket—I’mashamedtospeakofit,butthere’saruleofconductinthecase. Notreating,nopurchaseofexpensiveclass-books,nosquaringofolddebts;borrow,don’tlend.’ 

           ‘Macfarlane,’beganFettes,stillsomewhathoarsely,‘Ihaveputmyneckinahaltertoobligeyou.’ 

           ‘Toobligeme?’criedWolfe. ‘Oh,come!Youdid,asnearasIcanseethematter,whatyoudownrighthadtodoinself—defence.