Тридцять дев’ять ступенів

           Asyouwereneverpubliclyaccused,weconsideredthattherewasnoneedofapublicexculpation.Butonthat,ofcourse,youmustpleaseyourself.”

           “Wemaywantyourassistancelateron,MacGillivray,”SirWaltersaidasweleft.

           Thenheturnedmeloose.

           “Comeandseemetomorrow,Hannay.Ineedn’ttellyoutokeepdeadlyquiet.IfIwereyouIwouldgotobed,foryoumusthaveconsiderablearrearsofsleeptoovertake.Youhadbetterlielow,forifoneofyourBlackStonefriendssawyoutheremightbetrouble.”

           Ifeltcuriouslyatalooseend.Atfirstitwasverypleasanttobeafreeman,abletogowhereIwantedwithoutfearinganything.Ihadonlybeenamonthunderthebanofthelaw,anditwasquiteenoughforme.IwenttotheSavoyandorderedverycarefullyaverygoodluncheon,andthensmokedthebestcigarthehousecouldprovide.ButIwasstillfeelingnervous.WhenIsawanybodylookatmeinthelounge,Igrewshy,andwonderediftheywerethinkingaboutthemurder.

           AfterthatItookataxianddrovemilesawayupintoNorthLondon.Iwalkedbackthroughfieldsandlinesofvillasandterracesandthenslumsandmeanstreets,andittookmeprettynearlytwohours.Allthewhilemyrestlessnesswasgrowingworse.Ifeltthatgreatthings,tremendousthings,werehappeningorabouttohappen,andI,whowasthecog-wheelofthewholebusiness,wasoutofit.