Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 5
I’lltakeonyourjobforabitandseetheSurveyor.”
Hestaredatmeblankly;then,asthenotiondawnedonhisfuddledbrain,hisfacebrokeintothevacantdrunkard’ssmile.
“You’rethebilly,”hecried.“It’llbeeasyeneuchmanaged.I’vefinishedthatbingo’stanes,soyouneednachaponymairthisforenoon.Justtakethebarry,andwheeleneuchmetalfraeyonquarrydoontheroadtomakanitherbingthemorn.Myname’sAlexanderTrummle,andI’vebeenseevenyearatthetrade,andtwentyaforethatherdin’onLeithenWater.Myfreensca’meEcky,andwhilesSpecky,forIwearglesses,beingwaiki’thesicht.JustyouspeaktheSurveyorfair,andca’himSir,andhe’llbefellpleased.I’llbebackormidday.”
Iborrowedhisspectaclesandfilthyoldhat;strippedoffcoat,waistcoat,andcollar,andgavehimthemtocarryhome;borrowed,too,thefoulstumpofaclaypipeasanextraproperty.Heindicatedmysimpletasks,andwithoutmoreadosetoffatanamblebedwards.Bedmayhavebeenhischiefobject,butIthinktherewasalsosomethingleftinthefootofabottle.Iprayedthathemightbesafeundercoverbeforemyfriendsarrivedonthescene.
ThenIsettoworktodressforthepart.Iopenedthecollarofmyshirt—itwasavulgarblue-and-whitechecksuchasploughmenwear—andrevealedaneckasbrownasanytinker’s.Irolledupmysleeves,andtherewasaforearmwhichmighthavebeenablacksmith’s,sunburntandroughwitholdscars.
