Тридцять дев’ять ступенів

           AbovethewhitecliffsoftheRuffIsawthegreenandredofthevillas,andespeciallythegreatflagstaffofTrafalgarLodge.Aboutfouro’clock,whenwehadfishedenough,Imadetheboatmanrowusroundtheyacht,whichlaylikeadelicatewhitebird,readyatamomenttoflee.Scaifesaidshemustbeafastboatforherbuild,andthatshewasprettyheavilyengined.

           HernamewastheAriadne,asIdiscoveredfromthecapofoneofthemenwhowaspolishingbrasswork.Ispoketohim,andgotananswerinthesoftdialectofEssex.AnotherhandthatcamealongpassedmethetimeofdayinanunmistakableEnglishtongue.Ourboatmanhadanargumentwithoneofthemabouttheweather,andforafewminuteswelayonouroarsclosetothestarboardbow.

           Thenthemensuddenlydisregardedusandbenttheirheadstotheirworkasanofficercamealongthedeck.Hewasapleasant,clean-lookingyoungfellow,andheputaquestiontousaboutourfishinginverygoodEnglish.Buttherecouldbenodoubtabouthim.Hisclose-croppedheadandthecutofhiscollarandtienevercameoutofEngland.

           Thatdidsomethingtoreassureme,butaswerowedbacktoBradgatemyobstinatedoubtswouldnotbedismissed.ThethingthatworriedmewasthereflectionthatmyenemiesknewthatIhadgotmyknowledgefromScudder,anditwasScudderwhohadgivenmethecluetothisplace.IftheyknewthatScudderhadthisclue,wouldtheynotbecertaintochangetheirplans?Toomuchdependedontheirsuccessforthemtotakeanyrisks.