Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 1
Thecrowdsurgedpastmeonthepavements,busyandchattering,andIenviedthepeopleforhavingsomethingtodo.Theseshop-girlsandclerksanddandiesandpolicemenhadsomeinterestinlifethatkeptthemgoing.Igavehalf-a-crowntoabeggarbecauseIsawhimyawn;hewasafellow-sufferer.AtOxfordCircusIlookedupintothespringskyandImadeavow.IwouldgivetheOldCountryanotherdaytofitmeintosomething;ifnothinghappened,IwouldtakethenextboatfortheCape.
MyflatwasthefirstfloorinanewblockbehindLanghamPlace.Therewasacommonstaircase,withaporterandaliftmanattheentrance,buttherewasnorestaurantoranythingofthatsort,andeachflatwasquiteshutofffromtheothers.Ihateservantsonthepremises,soIhadafellowtolookaftermewhocameinbytheday.Hearrivedbeforeeighto’clockeverymorningandusedtodepartatseven,forIneverdinedathome.
IwasjustfittingmykeyintothedoorwhenInoticedamanatmyelbow.Ihadnotseenhimapproach,andthesuddenappearancemademestart.Hewasaslimman,withashortbrownbeardandsmall,gimletyblueeyes.Irecognizedhimastheoccupantofaflatonthetopfloor,withwhomIhadpassedthetimeofdayonthestairs.
“CanIspeaktoyou?”hesaid.“MayIcomeinforaminute?”Hewassteadyinghisvoicewithaneffort,andhishandwaspawingmyarm.
Igotmydooropenandmotionedhimin.Nosoonerwasheoverthethresholdthanhemadeadashformybackroom,whereIusedtosmokeandwritemyletters.Thenheboltedback.
