Тридцять дев’ять ступенів

           Myplanhadbeentowalkstraightintothedining-room,andbyasuddenappearancewakeinthementhatstartofrecognitionwhichwouldconfirmmytheory.ButwhenIfoundmyselfinthatneathalltheplacemasteredme.Therewerethegolf-clubsandtennis-rackets,thestrawhatsandcaps,therowsofgloves,thesheafofwalking-sticks,whichyouwillfindintenthousandBritishhomes.Astackofneatlyfoldedcoatsandwaterproofscoveredthetopofanoldoakchest;therewasagrandfatherclockticking;andsomepolishedbrasswarming-pansonthewalls,andabarometer,andaprintofChilternwinningtheStLeger.TheplacewasasorthodoxasanAnglicanchurch.WhenthemaidaskedmeformynameIgaveitautomatically,andwasshownintothesmoking-room,ontherightsideofthehall.

           Thatroomwasevenworse.Ihadn’ttimetoexamineit,butIcouldseesomeframedgroupphotographsabovethemantelpiece,andIcouldhavesworntheywereEnglishpublicschoolorcollege.Ihadonlyoneglance,forImanagedtopullmyselftogetherandgoafterthemaid.ButIwastoolate.Shehadalreadyenteredthedining-roomandgivenmynametohermaster,andIhadmissedthechanceofseeinghowthethreetookit.

           WhenIwalkedintotheroomtheoldmanattheheadofthetablehadrisenandturnedroundtomeetme.Hewasineveningdress—ashortcoatandblacktie,aswastheother,whomIcalledinmyownmindtheplumpone.Thethird,thedarkfellow,woreabluesergesuitandasoftwhitecollar,andthecoloursofsomecluborschool.