Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 1
SoIleftthebodyinbeddressedupinmypyjamas,witharevolverlyingonthebed-clothesandaconsiderablemessaround.ThenIgotintoasuitofclothesIhadkeptwaitingforemergencies.Ididn’tdaretoshaveforfearofleavingtracks,andbesides,itwasn’tanykindofusemytryingtogetintothestreets.Ihadhadyouinmymindallday,andthereseemednothingtodobuttomakeanappealtoyou.IwatchedfrommywindowtillIsawyoucomehome,andthenslippeddownthestairtomeetyou....There,sir,Iguessyouknowaboutasmuchasmeofthisbusiness.”
Hesatblinkinglikeanowl,flutteringwithnervesandyetdesperatelydetermined.BythistimeIwasprettywellconvincedthathewasgoingstraightwithme.Itwasthewildestsortofnarrative,butIhadheardinmytimemanysteeptaleswhichhadturnedouttobetrue,andIhadmadeapracticeofjudgingthemanratherthanthestory.Ifhehadwantedtogetalocationinmyflat,andthencutmythroat,hewouldhavepitchedamilderyarn.
“Handmeyourkey,”Isaid,“andI’lltakealookatthecorpse.Excusemycaution,butI’mboundtoverifyabitifIcan.”
Heshookhisheadmournfully.“Ireckonedyou’daskforthat,butIhaven’tgotit.It’sonmychainonthedressing-table.Ihadtoleaveitbehind,forIcouldn’tleaveanycluestobreedsuspicions.Thegentrywhoareaftermeareprettybright-eyedcitizens.You’llhavetotakemeontrustforthenight,andtomorrowyou’llgetproofofthecorpsebusinessrightenough.
