Тридцять дев’ять ступенів

           Nowyou’vegottobeagoodchapandhelpme.You’reaFreeTraderandcantellourpeoplewhatawash-outProtectionisintheColonies.Allyoufellowshavethegiftofthegab—IwishtoHeavenIhadit.I’llbeforevermoreinyourdebt.”

           IhadveryfewnotionsaboutFreeTradeonewayortheother,butIsawnootherchancetogetwhatIwanted.Myyounggentlemanwasfartooabsorbedinhisowndifficultiestothinkhowodditwastoaskastrangerwhohadjustmisseddeathbyanaceandhadlosta1,000-guineacartoaddressameetingforhimonthespurofthemoment.Butmynecessitiesdidnotallowmetocontemplateoddnessesortopickandchoosemysupports.

           “Allright,”Isaid.“I’mnotmuchgoodasaspeaker,butI’lltellthemabitaboutAustralia.”

           Atmywordsthecaresoftheagesslippedfromhisshoulders,andhewasrapturousinhisthanks.Helentmeabigdrivingcoat—andnevertroubledtoaskwhyIhadstartedonamotortourwithoutpossessinganulster—and,asweslippeddownthedustyroads,pouredintomyearsthesimplefactsofhishistory.Hewasanorphan,andhisunclehadbroughthimup—I’veforgottentheuncle’sname,buthewasintheCabinet,andyoucanreadhisspeechesinthepapers.HehadgoneroundtheworldafterleavingCambridge,andthen,beingshortofajob,hisunclehadadvisedpolitics.Igatheredthathehadnopreferenceinparties.“Goodchapsinboth,”hesaidcheerfully,“andplentyofblighters,too.I’mLiberal,becausemyfamilyhavealwaysbeenWhigs.