Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 7
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“Theletterwaswrittenandpostedonthe23rd.Heevidentlydidnotanticipateanimmediatedecease.Hiscommunicationsusuallytookaweektoreachme,fortheyweresentundercovertoSpainandthentoNewcastle.Hehadamania,youknow,forconcealinghistracks.”
“Whatdidhesay?”Istammered.
“Nothing.Merelythathewasindanger,buthadfoundshelterwithagoodfriend,andthatIwouldhearfromhimbeforethe15thofJune.Hegavemenoaddress,butsaidhewaslivingnearPortlandPlace.Ithinkhisobjectwastoclearyouifanythinghappened.WhenIgotitIwenttoScotlandYard,wentoverthedetailsoftheinquest,andconcludedthatyouwerethefriend.Wemadeinquiriesaboutyou,MrHannay,andfoundyouwererespectable.IthoughtIknewthemotivesforyourdisappearance—notonlythepolice,theotheronetoo—andwhenIgotHarry’sscrawlIguessedattherest.Ihavebeenexpectingyouanytimethispastweek.”
Youcanimaginewhataloadthistookoffmymind.Ifeltafreemanoncemore,forIwasnowupagainstmycountry’senemiesonly,andnotmycountry’slaw.
“Nowletushavethelittlenote-book,”saidSirWalter.
Ittookusagoodhourtoworkthroughit.Iexplainedthecypher,andhewasjollyquickatpickingitup.Heemendedmyreadingofitonseveralpoints,butIhadbeenfairlycorrect,onthewhole.Hisfacewasverygravebeforehehadfinished,andhesatsilentforawhile.
“Idon’tknowwhattomakeofit,”hesaidatlast.
