Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 1
WhenIcamebackfrommywalklastnightIfoundacardinmyletter-box.ItborethenameofthemanIwantleasttomeetonGod’searth.”
Ithinkthatthelookinmycompanion’seyes,thesheernakedscareonhisface,completedmyconvictionofhishonesty.MyownvoicesharpenedabitasIaskedhimwhathedidnext.
“IrealizedthatIwasbottledassureasapickledherring,andthattherewasonlyonewayout.Ihadtodie.IfmypursuersknewIwasdeadtheywouldgotosleepagain.”
“Howdidyoumanageit?”
“ItoldthemanthatvaletsmethatIwasfeelingprettybad,andIgotmyselfuptolooklikedeath.Thatwasn’tdifficult,forI’mnoslouchatdisguises.ThenIgotacorpse—youcanalwaysgetabodyinLondonifyouknowwheretogoforit.Ifetcheditbackinatrunkonthetopofafour-wheeler,andIhadtobeassistedupstairstomyroom.YouseeIhadtopileupsomeevidencefortheinquest.Iwenttobedandgotmymantomixmeasleeping-draught,andthentoldhimtoclearout.Hewantedtofetchadoctor,butIsworesomeandsaidIcouldn’tabideleeches.WhenIwasleftaloneIstartedintofakeupthatcorpse.Hewasmysize,andIjudgedhadperishedfromtoomuchalcohol,soIputsomespiritshandyabouttheplace.Thejawwastheweakpointinthelikeness,soIblewitawaywitharevolver.Idaresaytherewillbesomebodytomorrowtosweartohavingheardashot,buttherearenoneighboursonmyfloor,andIguessedIcouldriskit.
