Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 2
Thatwastheworstpartofthebusiness,forIwasfairlychokingtogetoutofdoors.Six-thirtypassed,thensix-forty,butstillhedidnotcome.Thefoolhadchosenthisdayofalldaystobelate.
AtoneminuteafterthequartertosevenIheardtherattleofthecansoutside.Iopenedthefrontdoor,andtherewasmyman,singlingoutmycansfromabunchhecarriedandwhistlingthroughhisteeth.Hejumpedabitatthesightofme.
“Comeinhereamoment,”Isaid.“Iwantawordwithyou.”AndIledhimintothedining-room.
“Ireckonyou’reabitofasportsman,”Isaid,“andIwantyoutodomeaservice.Lendmeyourcapandoverallfortenminutes,andhere’sasovereignforyou.”
Hiseyesopenedatthesightofthegold,andhegrinnedbroadly.“Wot’sthegyme?”heasked.
“Abet,”Isaid.“Ihaven’ttimetoexplain,buttowinitI’vegottobeamilkmanforthenexttenminutes.Allyou’vegottodoistostayheretillIcomeback.You’llbeabitlate,butnobodywillcomplain,andyou’llhavethatquidforyourself.”
“Right-o!”hesaidcheerily.“Iain’tthemantospoilabitofsport.’Ere’stherig,guv’nor.”
Istuckonhisflatbluehatandhiswhiteoverall,pickedupthecans,bangedmydoor,andwentwhistlingdownstairs.Theporteratthefoottoldmetoshutmyjaw,whichsoundedasifmymake-upwasadequate.
AtfirstIthoughttherewasnobodyinthestreet.ThenIcaughtsightofapolicemanahundredyardsdown,andaloafershufflingpastontheotherside.
