Таємний спільник
I
Idon’tknow—Iwantedtobeseen,totalkwithsomebody,beforeIwenton.Idon’tknowwhatIwouldhavesaid....‘Finenight,isn’tit?’orsomethingofthesort.”
“Doyouthinktheywillberoundherepresently?”Iaskedwithsomeincredulity.
“Quitelikely,”hesaid,faintly.
“Helookedextremelyhaggardallofasudden.Hisheadrolledonhisshoulders.
“H’m.Weshallseethen.Meantimegetintothatbed,”Iwhispered.“Wanthelp?There.”
Itwasaratherhighbedplacewithasetofdrawersunderneath.ThisamazingswimmerreallyneededtheliftIgavehimbyseizinghisleg.Hetumbledin,rolledoveronhisback,andflungonearmacrosshiseyes.Andthen,withhisfacenearlyhidden,hemusthavelookedexactlyasIusedtolookinthatbed.Igazeduponmyotherselfforawhilebeforedrawingacrosscarefullythetwogreensergecurtainswhichranonabrassrod.Ithoughtforamomentofpinningthemtogetherforgreatersafety,butIsatdownonthecouch,andoncethereIfeltunwillingtoriseandhuntforapin.Iwoulddoitinamoment.Iwasextremelytired,inapeculiarlyintimateway,bythestrainofstealthiness,bytheeffortofwhisperingandthegeneralsecrecyofthisexcitement.Itwasthreeo’clockbynowandIhadbeenonmyfeetsincenine,butIwasnotsleepy;Icouldnothavegonetosleep.Isatthere,faggedout,lookingatthecurtains,tryingtoclearmymindoftheconfusedsensationofbeingintwoplacesatonce,andgreatlybotheredbyanexasperatingknockinginmyhead.
