Тридцять дев’ять ступенів

           Therearedesperatemenagainstus,whowillnotrespectthecountryretreatofanoverworkedofficial.”

           WhenIfirstcametoLondonIhadboughtacarandamusedmyselfwithrunningaboutthesouthofEngland,soIknewsomethingofthegeography.ItookSirWaltertotownbytheBathRoadandmadegoodgoing.ItwasasoftbreathlessJunemorning,withapromiseofsultrinesslater,butitwasdeliciousenoughswingingthroughthelittletownswiththeirfreshlywateredstreets,andpastthesummergardensoftheThamesvalley.IlandedSirWalterathishouseinQueenAnne’sGatepunctuallybyhalf-pasteleven.Thebutlerwascomingupbytrainwiththeluggage.

           ThefirstthinghedidwastotakemeroundtoScotlandYard.Therewesawaprimgentleman,withaclean-shaven,lawyer’sface.

           “I’vebroughtyouthePortlandPlacemurderer,”wasSirWalter’sintroduction.

           Thereplywasawrysmile.“Itwouldhavebeenawelcomepresent,Bullivant.This,Ipresume,isMrRichardHannay,whoforsomedaysgreatlyinterestedmydepartment.”

           “MrHannaywillinterestitagain.Hehasmuchtotellyou,butnottoday.Forcertaingravereasonshistalemustwaitforfourhours.Then,Icanpromiseyou,youwillbeentertainedandpossiblyedified.IwantyoutoassureMrHannaythathewillsuffernofurtherinconvenience.”

           Thisassurancewaspromptlygiven.“Youcantakeupyourlifewhereyouleftoff,”Iwastold.“Yourflat,whichprobablyyounolongerwishtooccupy,iswaitingforyou,andyourmanisstillthere.