Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 5
OnMrJopley’sheadIclappedTurnbull’sunspeakablehat,andtoldhimtokeepitthere.
ThenwithsomedifficultyIturnedthecar.Myplanwastogobacktheroadhehadcome,forthewatchers,havingseenitbefore,wouldprobablyletitpassunremarked,andMarmie’sfigurewasinnowaylikemine.
“Now,mychild,”Isaid,“sitquitestillandbeagoodboy.Imeanyounoharm.I’monlyborrowingyourcarforanhourortwo.Butifyouplaymeanytricks,andaboveallifyouopenyourmouth,assureasthere’saGodabovemeI’llwringyourneck.Savez?”
Ienjoyedthatevening’sride.Weraneightmilesdownthevalley,throughavillageortwo,andIcouldnothelpnoticingseveralstrange-lookingfolkloungingbytheroadside.ThesewerethewatcherswhowouldhavehadmuchtosaytomeifIhadcomeinothergarborcompany.Asitwas,theylookedincuriouslyon.Onetouchedhiscapinsalute,andIrespondedgraciously.
AsthedarkfellIturnedupasideglenwhich,asIrememberfromthemap,ledintoanunfrequentedcornerofthehills.Soonthevillageswereleftbehind,thenthefarms,andtheneventhewaysidecottage.Presentlywecametoalonelymoorwherethenightwasblackeningthesunsetgleaminthebogpools.Herewestopped,andIobliginglyreversedthecarandrestoredtoMrJopleyhisbelongings.
“Athousandthanks,”Isaid.“There’smoreuseinyouthanIthought.Nowbeoffandfindthepolice.”
AsIsatonthehillside,watchingthetail-lightdwindle,IreflectedonthevariouskindsofcrimeIhadnowsampled