Викрадений
Chapter 28
Thomson;wasIsureofMr.T.‘sdiscretion;supposingwecouldcatchtheoldfoxtripping,wouldIconsenttosuchandsuchatermofanagreement—theseandthelikequestionshekeptaskingatlongintervals,whilehethoughtfullyrolledhiswineuponhistongue.WhenIhadansweredallofthem,seeminglytohiscontentment,hefellintoastilldeepermuse,eventheclaretbeingnowforgotten.Thenhegotasheetofpaperandapencil,andsettoworkwritingandweighingeveryword;andatlasttouchedabellandhadhisclerkintothechamber.
“Torrance,”saidhe,“Imusthavethiswrittenoutfairagainstto-night;andwhenitisdone,youwillbesokindasputonyourhatandbereadytocomealongwiththisgentlemanandme,foryouwillprobablybewantedasawitness.”
“What,sir,”criedI,assoonastheclerkwasgone,“areyoutoventureit?”
“Why,soitwouldappear,”sayshe,fillinghisglass.“Butletusspeaknomoreofbusiness.TheverysightofTorrancebringsinmyheadalittledrollmatterofsomeyearsago,whenIhadmadeatrystwiththepooroafatthecrossofEdinburgh.Eachhadgonehispropererrand;andwhenitcamefouro’clock,Torrancehadbeentakingaglassanddidnotknowhismaster,andI,whohadforgotmyspectacles,wassoblindwithoutthem,thatIgiveyoumywordIdidnotknowmyownclerk.”Andthereuponhelaughedheartily.
