Отруєний пояс
Chapter I. The Blurring Of Lines
Malone,thatwecouldemployyoutoadvantagethesedays.Iwasthinkingtherewasastorythatyouaretheonlymanthatcouldhandleasitshouldbehandled."
"Iamsorryforthat,"saidI,tryingtohidemydisappointment."OfcourseifIamneeded,thereisanendofthematter.Buttheengagementwasimportantandintimate.IfIcouldbespared——"
"Well,Idon’tseethatyoucan."
Itwasbitter,butIhadtoputthebestfaceIcoulduponit.Afterall,itwasmyownfault,forIshouldhaveknownbythistimethatajournalisthasnorighttomakeplansofhisown.
"ThenI’llthinknomoreofit,"saidIwithasmuchcheerfulnessasIcouldassumeatsoshortanotice."Whatwasitthatyouwantedmetodo?"
"Well,itwasjusttointerviewthatdeevilofamandownatRotherfield."
"Youdon’tmeanProfessorChallenger?"Icried.
"Aye,it’sjusthimthatIdomean.HeranyoungAlecSimpsonoftheCourieramiledownthehighroadlastweekbythecollarofhiscoatandtheslackofhisbreeches.You’llhavereadofit,likely,inthepolicereport.Ourboyswouldassooninterviewaloosealligatorinthezoo.Butyoucoulddoit,I’mthinking—anoldfriendlikeyou."
"Why,"saidI,greatlyrelieved,"thismakesitalleasy.ItsohappensthatitwastovisitProfessorChallengeratRotherfieldthatIwasaskingforleaveofabsence.Thefactis,thatitistheanniversaryofourmainadventureontheplateauthreeyearsago,andhehasaskedourwholepartydowntohishousetoseehimandcelebratetheoccasion."
"Capital!"criedMcArdle,rubbinghishandsandbeamingthroughhisglasses.
