Тридцять дев’ять ступенів

           Andyettherewerethreeofthem;andonewasold,andonewasplump,andonewasleananddark;andtheirhousechimedinwithScudder’snotes;andhalfamileoffwaslyingasteamyachtwithatleastoneGermanofficer.IthoughtofKarolideslyingdeadandallEuropetremblingontheedgeofearthquake,andthemenIhadleftbehindmeinLondonwhowerewaitinganxiouslyfortheeventsofthenexthours.Therewasnodoubtthathellwasafootsomewhere.TheBlackStonehadwon,andifitsurvivedthisJunenightwouldbankitswinnings.

           Thereseemedonlyonethingtodo—goforwardasifIhadnodoubts,andifIwasgoingtomakeafoolofmyselftodoithandsomely.NeverinmylifehaveIfacedajobwithgreaterdisinclination.Iwouldratherinmythenmindhavewalkedintoadenofanarchists,eachwithhisBrowninghandy,orfacedacharginglionwithapopgun,thanenterthathappyhomeofthreecheerfulEnglishmenandtellthemthattheirgamewasup.Howtheywouldlaughatme!

           ButsuddenlyIrememberedathingIonceheardinRhodesiafromoldPeterPienaar.IhavequotedPeteralreadyinthisnarrative.HewasthebestscoutIeverknew,andbeforehehadturnedrespectablehehadbeenprettyoftenonthewindysideofthelaw,whenhehadbeenwantedbadlybytheauthorities.Peteroncediscussedwithmethequestionofdisguises,andhehadatheorywhichstruckmeatthetime.Hesaid,barringabsolutecertaintieslikefingerprints,merephysicaltraitswereverylittleuseforidentificationifthefugitivereallyknewhisbusiness.