Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 9
Whywashightidesoimportant?Ifitwasaharbouritmustbesomelittleplacewherethetidemattered,orelseitwasaheavy-draughtboat.Buttherewasnoregularsteamersailingatthathour,andsomehowIdidn’tthinktheywouldtravelbyabigboatfromaregularharbour.Soitmustbesomelittleharbourwherethetidewasimportant,orperhapsnoharbouratall.
ButifitwasalittleportIcouldn’tseewhatthestepssignified.TherewerenosetsofstaircasesonanyharbourthatIhadeverseen.Itmustbesomeplacewhichaparticularstaircaseidentified,andwherethetidewasfullat10.17.Onthewholeitseemedtomethattheplacemustbeabitofopencoast.Butthestaircaseskeptpuzzlingme.
ThenIwentbacktowiderconsiderations.WhereaboutswouldamanbelikelytoleaveforGermany,amaninahurry,whowantedaspeedyandasecretpassage?Notfromanyofthebigharbours.AndnotfromtheChannelortheWestCoastorScotland,for,remember,hewasstartingfromLondon.Imeasuredthedistanceonthemap,andtriedtoputmyselfintheenemy’sshoes.IshouldtryforOstendorAntwerporRotterdam,andIshouldsailfromsomewhereontheEastCoastbetweenCromerandDover.
Allthiswasverylooseguessing,andIdon’tpretenditwasingeniousorscientific.Iwasn’tanykindofSherlockHolmes.ButIhavealwaysfanciedIhadakindofinstinctaboutquestionslikethis.
