Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 5
It’syouandyourmucklecawrsthatwreckmyroads!Ifwea’hadoorrichts,yesudbemadetomendwhatyebreak.”
Thebright-eyedmanwaslookingatthenewspaperlyingbesideTurnbull’sbundle.
“Iseeyougetyourpapersingoodtime,”hesaid.
Iglancedatitcasually.“Aye,ingudetime.Seein’thatthatpapercam’outlastSetterdayI’mjustsaxdayslate.”
Hepickeditup,glancedatthesuperscription,andlaiditdownagain.Oneoftheothershadbeenlookingatmyboots,andawordinGermancalledthespeaker’sattentiontothem.
“You’veafinetasteinboots,”hesaid.“Thesewerenevermadebyacountryshoemaker.”
“Theywerenot,”Isaidreadily.“TheyweremadeinLondon.Igotthemfraethegentlemanthatwasherelastyearfortheshootin’.Whatwashisnamenow?”AndIscratchedaforgetfulhead.AgainthesleekonespokeinGerman.“Letusgeton,”hesaid.“Thisfellowisallright.”
Theyaskedonelastquestion.
“Didyouseeanyonepassearlythismorning?Hemightbeonabicycleorhemightbeonfoot.”
Iverynearlyfellintothetrapandtoldastoryofabicyclisthurryingpastinthegreydawn.ButIhadthesensetoseemydanger.Ipretendedtoconsiderverydeeply.
“Iwasnaupveryearly,”Isaid.“Yesee,mydochterwasmerritlastnicht,andwekeepitituplate.Iopenedthehousedooraboutseevenandtherewasnaebodyontheroadthen.SinceIcamupheretherehasjustbeenthebakerandtheRuchillherd,besidesyougentlemen.
