Тридцять дев’ять ступенів

           “Ithoughtyouhaddroppedthatrot.I’vesimplygottogo.Youcanhavemyaddress,andI’llgiveanysecurityyoulike.”

           “No,”Isaid,“youmuststay.”

           AtthatIthinktheymusthaverealizedthatthegamewasdesperate.TheironlychancehadbeentoconvincemethatIwasplayingthefool,andthathadfailed.Buttheoldmanspokeagain.

           “I’llgobailformynephew.Thatoughttocontentyou,MrHannay.”Wasitfancy,ordidIdetectsomehaltinthesmoothnessofthatvoice?

           Theremusthavebeen,forasIglancedathim,hiseyelidsfellinthathawk-likehoodwhichfearhadstampedonmymemory.

           Iblewmywhistle.

           Inaninstantthelightswereout.Apairofstrongarmsgrippedmeroundthewaist,coveringthepocketsinwhichamanmightbeexpectedtocarryapistol.

           “Schnell,Franz,’criedavoice,“dasBoot,dasBoot!”AsitspokeIsawtwoofmyfellowsemergeonthemoonlitlawn.

           Theyoungdarkmanleaptforthewindow,wasthroughit,andoverthelowfencebeforeahandcouldtouchhim.Igrappledtheoldchap,andtheroomseemedtofillwithfigures.Isawtheplumponecollared,butmyeyeswereallfortheout-of-doors,whereFranzspedonovertheroadtowardstherailedentrancetothebeachstairs.Onemanfollowedhim,buthehadnochance.Thegateofthestairslockedbehindthefugitive,andIstoodstaring,withmyhandsontheoldboy’sthroat,forsuchatimeasamanmighttaketodescendthosestepstothesea.

           Suddenlymyprisonerbrokefrommeandflunghimselfonthewall