Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 5
“Marmie’wasafamiliarfigure,Iunderstood,atballsandpolo-weeksandcountryhouses.Hewasanadroitscandal-monger,andwouldcrawlamileonhisbellytoanythingthathadatitleoramillion.IhadabusinessintroductiontohisfirmwhenIcametoLondon,andhewasgoodenoughtoaskmetodinnerathisclub.Thereheshowedoffatagreatrate,andpatteredabouthisduchessestillthesnobberyofthecreatureturnedmesick.Iaskedamanafterwardswhynobodykickedhim,andwastoldthatEnglishmenreverencedtheweakersex.
Anyhowtherehewasnow,nattilydressed,inafinenewcar,obviouslyonhiswaytovisitsomeofhissmartfriends.Asuddendaftnesstookme,andinasecondIhadjumpedintothetonneauandhadhimbytheshoulder.
“Hullo,Jopley,”Isangout.“Wellmet,mylad!”Hegotahorridfright.Hischindroppedashestaredatme.“Whothedevilareyou?”hegasped.
“Myname’sHannay,”Isaid.“FromRhodesia,youremember.”
“GoodGod,themurderer!”hechoked.
“Justso.Andthere’llbeasecondmurder,mydear,ifyoudon’tdoasItellyou.Givemethatcoatofyours.Thatcap,too.”
Hedidashewasbid,forhewasblindwithterror.OvermydirtytrousersandvulgarshirtIputonhissmartdriving-coat,whichbuttonedhighatthetopandtherebyhidthedeficienciesofmycollar.Istuckthecaponmyhead,andaddedhisglovestomyget-up.ThedustyroadmaninaminutewastransformedintooneoftheneatestmotoristsinScotland.
