Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 7
ItoldSirWalterabouttiger-fishintheZambesithatbiteoffyourfingersifyougivethemachance,andwediscussedsportupanddowntheglobe,forhehadhuntedabitinhisday.
Wewenttohisstudyforcoffee,ajollyroomfullofbooksandtrophiesanduntidinessandcomfort.ImadeupmymindthatifeverIgotridofthisbusinessandhadahouseofmyown,Iwouldcreatejustsucharoom.Thenwhenthecoffee-cupswereclearedaway,andwehadgotourcigarsalight,myhostswunghislonglegsoverthesideofhischairandbademegetstartedwithmyyarn.
“I’veobeyedHarry’sinstructions,”hesaid,“andthebribeheofferedmewasthatyouwouldtellmesomethingtowakemeup.I’mready,MrHannay.”
Inoticedwithastartthathecalledmebymypropername.
Ibeganattheverybeginning.ItoldofmyboredominLondon,andthenightIhadcomebacktofindScuddergibberingonmydoorstep.ItoldhimallScudderhadtoldmeaboutKarolidesandtheForeignOfficeconference,andthatmadehimpursehislipsandgrin.
ThenIgottothemurder,andhegrewsolemnagain.HeheardallaboutthemilkmanandmytimeinGalloway,andmydecipheringScudder’snotesattheinn.
“You’vegotthemhere?”heaskedsharply,anddrewalongbreathwhenIwhippedthelittlebookfrommypocket.
Isaidnothingofthecontents.ThenIdescribedmymeetingwithSirHarry,andthespeechesatthehall.Atthathelaugheduproariously.
“Harrytalkeddashednonsense,didhe?Iquitebelieveit.
