Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 10
IhadtokeepafirmholdofPeterPienaartopreventmyselfboltingoutofthathouse.
“Well,”saidtheoldmanpolitely,“areyoureassuredbyyourscrutiny,sir?”
Icouldn’tfindaword.
“Ihopeyou’llfinditconsistentwithyourdutytodropthisridiculousbusiness.Imakenocomplaint,butyou’llseehowannoyingitmustbetorespectablepeople.”
Ishookmyhead.
“OLord,”saidtheyoungman.“Thisisabittoothick!”
“Doyouproposetomarchusofftothepolicestation?”askedtheplumpone.“Thatmightbethebestwayoutofit,butIsupposeyouwon’tbecontentwiththelocalbranch.Ihavetherighttoasktoseeyourwarrant,butIdon’twishtocastanyaspersionsuponyou.Youareonlydoingyourduty.Butyou’lladmitit’shorriblyawkward.Whatdoyouproposetodo?”
Therewasnothingtodoexcepttocallinmymenandhavethemarrested,ortoconfessmyblunderandclearout.Ifeltmesmerizedbythewholeplace,bytheairofobviousinnocence—notinnocencemerely,butfrankhonestbewildermentandconcerninthethreefaces.
“Oh,PeterPienaar,”Igroanedinwardly,andforamomentIwasveryneardamningmyselfforafoolandaskingtheirpardon.
“MeantimeIvotewehaveagameofbridge,”saidtheplumpone.“ItwillgiveMrHannaytimetothinkoverthings,andyouknowwehavebeenwantingafourthplayer.Doyouplay,sir?”
Iacceptedasifithadbeenanordinaryinvitationattheclub.Thewholebusinesshadmesmerizedme.
