Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 6
Mygaolersturnedthekeyinthedoor,andIcouldhearthemshiftingtheirfeetastheystoodonguardoutside.
Isatdowninthatchillydarknessinaverymiserableframeofmind.Theoldboyhadgoneoffinamotortocollectthetworuffianswhohadinterviewedmeyesterday.Now,theyhadseenmeastheroadman,andtheywouldrememberme,forIwasinthesamerig.Whatwasaroadmandoingtwentymilesfromhisbeat,pursuedbythepolice?Aquestionortwowouldputthemonthetrack.ProbablytheyhadseenMrTurnbull,probablyMarmietoo;mostlikelytheycouldlinkmeupwithSirHarry,andthenthewholethingwouldbecrystalclear.WhatchancehadIinthismoorlandhousewiththreedesperadoesandtheirarmedservants?
Ibegantothinkwistfullyofthepolice,nowploddingoverthehillsaftermywraith.Theyatanyratewerefellow-countrymenandhonestmen,andtheirtendermercieswouldbekinderthantheseghoulishaliens.Buttheywouldn’thavelistenedtome.Thatolddevilwiththeeyelidshadnottakenlongtogetridofthem.Ithoughtheprobablyhadsomekindofgraftwiththeconstabulary.MostlikelyhehadlettersfromCabinetMinisterssayinghewastobegiveneveryfacilityforplottingagainstBritain.That’sthesortofowlishwaywerunourpoliticsinthisjollyoldcountry.
Thethreewouldbebackforlunch,soIhadn’tmorethanacoupleofhourstowait.Itwassimplywaitingondestruction,forIcouldseenowayoutofthismess.
