Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 4
Thatfetchedacheer,andIwokethemupabitwhenIstartedintotellthemthekindofgloriousbusinessIthoughtcouldbemadeoutoftheEmpireifwereallyputourbacksintoit.
AltogetherIfancyIwasratherasuccess.Theministerdidn’tlikeme,though,andwhenheproposedavoteofthanks,spokeofSirHarry’sspeechas“statesmanlike”andmineashaving“theeloquenceofanemigrationagent.”
Whenwewereinthecaragainmyhostwasinwildspiritsathavinggothisjobover.“Arippingspeech,Twisdon,”hesaid.“Now,you’recominghomewithme.I’mallalone,andifyou’llstopadayortwoI’llshowyousomeverydecentfishing.”
Wehadahotsupper—andIwanteditprettybadly—andthendrankgroginabigcheerysmoking-roomwithacracklingwoodfire.Ithoughtthetimehadcomeformetoputmycardsonthetable.Isawbythisman’seyethathewasthekindyoucantrust.
“Listen,SirHarry,”Isaid.“I’vesomethingprettyimportanttosaytoyou.You’reagoodfellow,andI’mgoingtobefrank.Whereonearthdidyougetthatpoisonousrubbishyoutalkedtonight?”
Hisfacefell.“Wasitasbadasthat?”heaskedruefully.“Itdidsoundratherthin.IgotmostofitoutoftheProgressiveMagazineandpamphletsthatagentchapofminekeepssendingme.Butyousurelydon’tthinkGermanywouldevergotowarwithus?”
“Askthatquestioninsixweeksanditwon’tneedananswer,”Isaid.“Ifyou’llgivemeyourattentionforhalfanhourIamgoingtotellyouastory.
