Тридцять дев’ять ступенів

           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