版权说明:本文档由用户提供并上传,收益归属内容提供方,若内容存在侵权,请进行举报或认领
文档简介
THETHIRTY-NINESTEPS
1
THETHIRTY-NINE
STEPS
JOHNBUCHAN
THETHIRTY-NINESTEPS
2
TOTHOMASARTHURNELSON
(LOTHIANANDBORDERHORSE)
MyDearTommy,
YouandIhavelongcherishedanaffectionforthatelementaltypeoftalewhichAmericanscallthe'dimenovel'andwhichweknowasthe'shocker'-theromancewheretheincidentsdefytheprobabilities,andmarchjustinsidethebordersofthepossible.DuringanillnesslastwinterIexhaustedmystoreofthoseaidstocheerfulness,andwasdriventowriteoneformyself.Thislittlevolumeistheresult,andIshouldliketoputyournameonitinmemoryofourlongfriendship,inthedayswhenthewildestfictionsaresomuchlessimprobablethanthefacts.
J.B.
THETHIRTY-NINESTEPS
3
CHAPTERONETheManWho
Died
IreturnedfromtheCityaboutthreeo'clockonthatMayafternoonprettywelldisgustedwithlife.IhadbeenthreemonthsintheOldCountry,andwasfedupwithit.IfanyonehadtoldmeayearagothatIwouldhavebeenfeelinglikethatIshouldhavelaughedathim;buttherewasthefact.Theweathermademeliverish,thetalkoftheordinaryEnglishmanmademesick,Icouldn'tgetenoughexercise,andtheamusementsofLondonseemedasflatassoda-waterthathasbeenstandinginthesun.'RichardHannay,'Ikepttellingmyself,'youhavegotintothewrongditch,myfriend,andyouhadbetterclimbout.'ItmademebitemylipstothinkoftheplansIhadbeenbuildingupthoselastyearsinBulawayo.Ihadgotmypile-notoneofthebigones,butgoodenoughforme;andIhadfiguredoutallkindsofwaysofenjoyingmyself.MyfatherhadbroughtmeoutfromScotlandattheageofsix,andIhadneverbeenhomesince;soEnglandwasasortofArabianNightstome,andIcountedonstoppingtherefortherestofmydays.
ButfromthefirstIwasdisappointedwithit.InaboutaweekIwastiredofseeingsights,andinlessthanamonthIhadhadenoughofrestaurantsandtheatresandrace-meetings.Ihadnorealpaltogoaboutwith,whichprobablyexplainsthings.Plentyofpeopleinvitedmetotheirhouses,buttheydidn'tseemmuchinterestedinme.TheywouldflingmeaquestionortwoaboutSouthAfrica,andthengetontheirownaffairs.AlotofImperialistladiesaskedmetoteatomeetschoolmastersfromNewZealandandeditorsfromVancouver,andthatwasthedismalestbusinessofall.HerewasI,thirty-sevenyearsold,soundinwindandlimb,withenoughmoneytohaveagoodtime,yawningmyheadoffallday.Ihadjustaboutsettledtoclearoutandgetbacktotheveld,forIwasthebestboredmanintheUnitedKingdom.
ThatafternoonIhadbeenworryingmybrokersaboutinvestmentstogivemymindsomethingtoworkon,andonmywayhomeIturnedintomyclub-ratherapot-house,whichtookinColonialmembers.Ihada
THETHIRTY-NINESTEPS
4
longdrink,andreadtheeveningpapers.TheywerefulloftherowintheNearEast,andtherewasanarticleaboutKarolides,theGreekPremier.Iratherfanciedthechap.Fromallaccountsheseemedtheonebigmanintheshow;andheplayedastraightgametoo,whichwasmorethancouldbesaidformostofthem.IgatheredthattheyhatedhimprettyblacklyinBerlinandVienna,butthatweweregoingtostickbyhim,andonepapersaidthathewastheonlybarrierbetweenEuropeandArmageddon.IrememberwonderingifIcouldgetajobinthoseparts.ItstruckmethatAlbaniawasthesortofplacethatmightkeepamanfromyawning.
Aboutsixo'clockIwenthome,dressed,dinedattheCafeRoyal,andturnedintoamusic-hall.Itwasasillyshow,allcaperingwomenandmonkey-facedmen,andIdidnotstaylong.ThenightwasfineandclearasIwalkedbacktotheflatIhadhirednearPortlandPlace.Thecrowdsurgedpastmeonthepavements,busyandchattering,andIenviedthepeopleforhavingsomethingtodo.Theseshop-girlsandclerksanddandiesandpolicemenhadsomeinterestinlifethatkeptthemgoing.Igavehalf-a-crowntoabeggarbecauseIsawhimyawn;hewasafellow-sufferer.AtOxfordCircusIlookedupintothespringskyandImadeavow.IwouldgivetheOldCountryanotherdaytofitmeintosomething;ifnothinghappened,IwouldtakethenextboatfortheCape.
MyflatwasthefirstfloorinanewblockbehindLanghamPlace.Therewasacommonstaircase,withaporterandaliftmanattheentrance,buttherewasnorestaurantoranythingofthatsort,andeachflatwasquiteshutofffromtheothers.Ihateservantsonthepremises,soIhadafellowtolookaftermewhocameinbytheday.Hearrivedbeforeeighto'clockeverymorningandusedtodepartatseven,forIneverdinedathome.
IwasjustfittingmykeyintothedoorwhenInoticedamanatmyelbow.Ihadnotseenhimapproach,andthesuddenappearancemademestart.Hewasaslimman,withashortbrownbeardandsmall,gimletyblueeyes.Irecognizedhimastheoccupantofaflatonthetopfloor,withwhomIhadpassedthetimeofdayonthestairs.
'CanIspeaktoyou?'hesaid.'MayIcomeinforaminute?'Hewassteadyinghisvoicewithaneffort,andhishandwaspawingmyarm.
Igotmydooropenandmotionedhimin.Nosoonerwasheoverthe
THETHIRTY-NINESTEPS
5
thresholdthanhemadeadashformybackroom,whereIusedtosmokeandwritemyletters.Thenheboltedback.
'Isthedoorlocked?'heaskedfeverishly,andhefastenedthechainwithhisownhand.
'I'mverysorry,'hesaidhumbly.'It'samightyliberty,butyoulookedthekindofmanwhowouldunderstand.I'vehadyouinmymindallthisweekwhenthingsgottroublesome.Say,willyoudomeagoodturn?'
'I'lllistentoyou,'Isaid.'That'sallI'llpromise.'Iwasgettingworriedbytheanticsofthisnervouslittlechap.
Therewasatrayofdrinksonatablebesidehim,fromwhichhefilledhimselfastiffwhisky-and-soda.Hedrankitoffinthreegulps,andcrackedtheglassashesetitdown.
'Pardon,'hesaid,'I'mabitrattledtonight.Yousee,Ihappenatthismomenttobedead.'
Isatdowninanarmchairandlitmypipe.
'Whatdoesitfeellike?'Iasked.IwasprettycertainthatIhadtodealwithamadman.
Asmileflickeredoverhisdrawnface.'I'mnotmad-yet.Say,Sir,I'vebeenwatchingyou,andIreckonyou'reacoolcustomer.Ireckon,too,you'reanhonestman,andnotafraidofplayingaboldhand.I'mgoingtoconfideinyou.Ineedhelpworsethananymaneverneededit,andIwanttoknowifIcancountyouin.'
'Getonwithyouryarn,'Isaid,'andI'lltellyou.'
Heseemedtobracehimselfforagreateffort,andthenstartedonthequeerestrigmarole.Ididn'tgetholdofitatfirst,andIhadtostopandaskhimquestions.Buthereisthegistofit:
HewasanAmerican,fromKentucky,andaftercollege,beingprettywelloff,hehadstartedouttoseetheworld.Hewroteabit,andactedaswarcorrespondentforaChicagopaper,andspentayearortwoinSouth-EasternEurope.Igatheredthathewasafinelinguist,andhadgottoknowprettywellthesocietyinthoseparts.HespokefamiliarlyofmanynamesthatIrememberedtohaveseeninthenewspapers.
Hehadplayedaboutwithpolitics,hetoldme,atfirstfortheinterestofthem,andthenbecausehecouldn'thelphimself.Ireadhimasasharp,
THETHIRTY-NINESTEPS
6
restlessfellow,whoalwayswantedtogetdowntotherootsofthings.Hegotalittlefurtherdownthanhewanted.
IamgivingyouwhathetoldmeaswellasIcouldmakeitout.AwaybehindalltheGovernmentsandthearmiestherewasabigsubterraneanmovementgoingon,engineeredbyverydangerouspeople.Hehadcomeonitbyaccident;itfascinatedhim;hewentfurther,andthenhegotcaught.Igatheredthatmostofthepeopleinitwerethesortofeducatedanarchiststhatmakerevolutions,butthatbesidethemtherewerefinancierswhowereplayingformoney.Aclevermancanmakebigprofitsonafallingmarket,anditsuitedthebookofbothclassestosetEuropebytheears.
Hetoldmesomequeerthingsthatexplainedalotthathadpuzzledme-thingsthathappenedintheBalkanWar,howonestatesuddenlycameoutontop,whyalliancesweremadeandbroken,whycertainmendisappeared,andwherethesinewsofwarcamefrom.TheaimofthewholeconspiracywastogetRussiaandGermanyatloggerheads.
WhenIaskedwhy,hesaidthattheanarchistlotthoughtitwouldgivethemtheirchance.Everythingwouldbeinthemelting-pot,andtheylookedtoseeanewworldemerge.Thecapitalistswouldrakeintheshekels,andmakefortunesbybuyingupwreckage.Capital,hesaid,hadnoconscienceandnofatherland.Besides,theJewwasbehindit,andtheJewhatedRussiaworsethanhell.
'Doyouwonder?'hecried.'Forthreehundredyearstheyhavebeenpersecuted,andthisisthereturnmatchforthepogroms.TheJewiseverywhere,butyouhavetogofardownthebackstairstofindhim.TakeanybigTeutonicbusinessconcern.IfyouhavedealingswithitthefirstmanyoumeetisPrincevonundZuSomething,anelegantyoungmanwhotalksEton-and-HarrowEnglish.Buthecutsnoice.Ifyourbusinessisbig,yougetbehindhimandfindaprognathousWestphalianwitharetreatingbrowandthemannersofahog.HeistheGermanbusinessmanthatgivesyourEnglishpaperstheshakes.Butifyou'reonthebiggestkindofjobandareboundtogettotherealboss,tentooneyouarebroughtupagainstalittlewhite-facedJewinabath-chairwithaneyelikearattlesnake.Yes,Sir,heisthemanwhoisrulingtheworldjustnow,andhehashisknifeintheEmpireoftheTzar,becausehisauntwasoutraged
THETHIRTY-NINESTEPS
7
andhisfatherfloggedinsomeone-horselocationontheVolga.'
IcouldnothelpsayingthathisJew-anarchistsseemedtohavegotleftbehindalittle.
'Yesandno,'hesaid.'Theywonuptoapoint,buttheystruckabiggerthingthanmoney,athingthatcouldn'tbebought,theoldelementalfightinginstinctsofman.Ifyou'regoingtobekilledyouinventsomekindofflagandcountrytofightfor,andifyousurviveyougettolovethething.Thosefoolishdevilsofsoldiershavefoundsomethingtheycarefor,andthathasupsettheprettyplanlaidinBerlinandVienna.Butmyfriendshaven'tplayedtheirlastcardbyalongsight.They'vegottentheaceuptheirsleeves,andunlessIcankeepaliveforamonththeyaregoingtoplayitandwin.'
'ButIthoughtyouweredead,'Iputin.
'MORSJANUAVITAE,'hesmiled.(Irecognizedthequotation:itwasaboutalltheLatinIknew.)'I'mcomingtothat,butI'vegottoputyouwiseaboutalotofthingsfirst.Ifyoureadyournewspaper,IguessyouknowthenameofConstantineKarolides?'
Isatupatthat,forIhadbeenreadingabouthimthatveryafternoon.
'Heisthemanthathaswreckedalltheirgames.Heistheonebigbraininthewholeshow,andhehappensalsotobeanhonestman.Thereforehehasbeenmarkeddownthesetwelvemonthspast.Ifoundthatout-notthatitwasdifficult,foranyfoolcouldguessasmuch.ButIfoundoutthewaytheyweregoingtogethim,andthatknowledgewasdeadly.That'swhyIhavehadtodecease.'
Hehadanotherdrink,andImixeditforhimmyself,forIwasgettinginterestedinthebeggar.
'Theycan'tgethiminhisownland,forhehasabodyguardofEpirotesthatwouldskintheirgrandmothers.Butonthe15thdayofJuneheiscomingtothiscity.TheBritishForeignOfficehastakentohavingInternationaltea-parties,andthebiggestofthemisdueonthatdate.NowKarolidesisreckonedtheprincipalguest,andifmyfriendshavetheirwayhewillneverreturntohisadmiringcountrymen.'
'That'ssimpleenough,anyhow,'Isaid.'Youcanwarnhimandkeephimathome.'
THETHIRTY-NINESTEPS
8
'Andplaytheirgame?'heaskedsharply.'Ifhedoesnotcometheywin,forhe'stheonlymanthatcanstraightenoutthetangle.AndifhisGovernmentarewarnedhewon'tcome,forhedoesnotknowhowbigthestakeswillbeonJunethe15th.'
'WhatabouttheBritishGovernment?'Isaid.'They'renotgoingtolettheirguestsbemurdered.Tipthemthewink,andthey'lltakeextraprecautions.'
'Nogood.Theymightstuffyourcitywithplain-clothesdetectivesanddoublethepoliceandConstantinewouldstillbeadoomedman.Myfriendsarenotplayingthisgameforcandy.Theywantabigoccasionforthetakingoff,withtheeyesofallEuropeonit.He'llbemurderedbyanAustrian,andthere'llbeplentyofevidencetoshowtheconnivanceofthebigfolkinViennaandBerlin.Itwillallbeaninfernallie,ofcourse,butthecasewilllookblackenoughtotheworld.I'mnottalkinghotair,myfriend.Ihappentoknoweverydetailofthehellishcontrivance,andIcantellyouitwillbethemostfinishedpieceofblackguardismsincetheBorgias.Butit'snotgoingtocomeoffifthere'sacertainmanwhoknowsthewheelsofthebusinessaliverighthereinLondononthe15thdayofJune.Andthatmanisgoingtobeyourservant,FranklinP.Scudder.'
Iwasgettingtolikethelittlechap.Hisjawhadshutlikearat-trap,andtherewasthefireofbattleinhisgimletyeyes.Ifhewasspinningmeayarnhecouldactuptoit.
'Wheredidyoufindoutthisstory?'Iasked.
'IgotthefirsthintinaninnontheAchenseeinTyrol.Thatsetmeinquiring,andIcollectedmyothercluesinafur-shopintheGalicianquarterofBuda,inaStrangers'ClubinVienna,andinalittlebookshopofftheRacknitzstrasseinLeipsic.IcompletedmyevidencetendaysagoinParis.Ican'ttellyouthedetailsnow,forit'ssomethingofahistory.WhenIwasquitesureinmyownmindIjudgeditmybusinesstodisappear,andIreachedthiscitybyamightyqueercircuit.IleftParisadandifiedyoungFrench-American,andIsailedfromHamburgaJewdiamondmerchant.InNorwayIwasanEnglishstudentofIbsencollectingmaterialsforlectures,butwhenIleftBergenIwasacinema-manwithspecialskifilms.AndIcameherefromLeithwithalotofpulp-wood
THETHIRTY-NINESTEPS
9
propositionsinmypockettoputbeforetheLondonnewspapers.TillyesterdayIthoughtIhadmuddiedmytrailsome,andwasfeelingprettyhappy.Then...'
Therecollectionseemedtoupsethim,andhegulpeddownsomemorewhisky.
'ThenIsawamanstandinginthestreetoutsidethisblock.Iusedtostaycloseinmyroomallday,andonlyslipoutafterdarkforanhourortwo.Iwatchedhimforabitfrommywindow,andIthoughtIrecognizedhim...Hecameinandspoketotheporter...WhenIcamebackfrommywalklastnightIfoundacardinmyletter-box.ItborethenameofthemanIwantleasttomeetonGod'searth.'
Ithinkthatthelookinmycompanion'seyes,thesheernakedscareonhisface,completedmyconvictionofhishonesty.MyownvoicesharpenedabitasIaskedhimwhathedidnext.
'IrealizedthatIwasbottledassureasapickledherring,andthattherewasonlyonewayout.Ihadtodie.IfmypursuersknewIwasdeadtheywouldgotosleepagain.'
'Howdidyoumanageit?'
'ItoldthemanthatvaletsmethatIwasfeelingprettybad,andIgotmyselfuptolooklikedeath.Thatwasn'tdifficult,forI'mnoslouchatdisguises.ThenIgotacorpse-youcanalwaysgetabodyinLondonifyouknowwheretogoforit.Ifetcheditbackinatrunkonthetopofafour-wheeler,andIhadtobeassistedupstairstomyroom.YouseeIhadtopileupsomeevidencefortheinquest.Iwenttobedandgotmymantomixmeasleeping-draught,andthentoldhimtoclearout.Hewantedtofetchadoctor,butIsworesomeandsaidIcouldn'tabideleeches.WhenIwasleftaloneIstartedintofakeupthatcorpse.Hewasmysize,andIjudgedhadperishedfromtoomuchalcohol,soIputsomespiritshandyabouttheplace.Thejawwastheweakpointinthelikeness,soIblewitawaywitharevolver.Idaresaytherewillbesomebodytomorrowtosweartohavingheardashot,buttherearenoneighboursonmyfloor,andIguessedIcouldriskit.SoIleftthebodyinbeddressedupinmypyjamas,witharevolverlyingonthebed-clothesandaconsiderablemessaround.ThenIgotintoasuitofclothesIhadkeptwaitingforemergencies.Ididn't
THETHIRTY-NINESTEPS
10
daretoshaveforfearofleavingtracks,andbesides,itwasn'tanykindofusemytryingtogetintothestreets.Ihadhadyouinmymindallday,andthereseemednothingtodobuttomakeanappealtoyou.IwatchedfrommywindowtillIsawyoucomehome,andthenslippeddownthestairtomeetyou...There,Sir,Iguessyouknowaboutasmuchasmeofthisbusiness.'
Hesatblinkinglikeanowl,flutteringwithnervesandyetdesperatelydetermined.BythistimeIwasprettywellconvincedthathewasgoingstraightwithme.Itwasthewildestsortofnarrative,butIhadheardinmytimemanysteeptaleswhichhadturnedouttobetrue,andIhadmadeapracticeofjudgingthemanratherthanthestory.Ifhehadwantedtogetalocationinmyflat,andthencutmythroat,hewouldhavepitchedamilder
yarn.
'Handmeyourkey,'Isaid,'andI'lltakealookatthecorpse.Excusemycaution,butI'mboundtoverifyabitifIcan.'
Heshookhisheadmournfully.'Ireckonedyou'daskforthat,butIhaven'tgotit.It'sonmychainonthedressing-table.Ihadtoleaveitbehind,forIcouldn'tleaveanycluestobreedsuspicions.Thegentrywhoareaftermeareprettybright-eyedcitizens.You'llhavetotakemeontrustforthenight,andtomorrowyou'llgetproofofthecorpsebusinessrightenough.'
Ithoughtforaninstantortwo.'Right.I'lltrustyouforthenight.I'lllockyouintothisroomandkeepthekey.justoneword,MrScudder.Ibelieveyou'restraight,butifsobeyouarenotIshouldwarnyouthatI'mahandymanwithagun.'
'Sure,'hesaid,jumpingupwithsomebriskness.'Ihaven'ttheprivilegeofyourname,Sir,butletmetellyouthatyou'reawhiteman.I'llthankyoutolendmearazor.'
Itookhimintomybedroomandturnedhimloose.Inhalfanhour'stimeafigurecameoutthatIscarcelyrecognized.Onlyhisgimlety,hungryeyeswerethesame.Hewasshavedclean,hishairwaspartedinthemiddle,andhehadcuthiseyebrows.Further,hecarriedhimselfasifhehadbeendrilled,andwastheverymodel,eventothebrowncomplexion,ofsomeBritishofficerwhohadhadalongspellinIndia.Hehada
THETHIRTY-NINESTEPS
11
monocle,too,whichhestuckinhiseye,andeverytraceoftheAmericanhadgoneoutofhisspeech.
'Myhat!MrScudder-'Istammered.
'NotMrScudder,'hecorrected;'CaptainTheophilusDigby,ofthe40thGurkhas,presentlyhomeonleave.I'llthankyoutorememberthat,Sir.'
Imadehimupabedinmysmoking-roomandsoughtmyowncouch,morecheerfulthanIhadbeenforthepastmonth.Thingsdidhappenoccasionally,eveninthisGod-forgottenmetropolis.
Iwokenextmorningtohearmyman,Paddock,makingthedeuceofarowatthesmoking-roomdoor.PaddockwasafellowIhaddoneagoodturntooutontheSelakwe,andIhadinspannedhimasmyservantassoonasIgottoEngland.Hehadaboutasmuchgiftofthegabasahippopotamus,andwasnotagreathandatvaleting,butIknewIcouldcountonhisloyalty.
'Stopthatrow,Paddock,'Isaid.'There'safriendofmine,Captain-Captain'(Icouldn'trememberthename)'dossingdowninthere.Getbreakfastfortwoandthencomeandspeaktome.'
ItoldPaddockafinestoryabouthowmyfriendwasagreatswell,withhisnervesprettybadfromoverwork,whowantedabsoluterestandstillness.Nobodyhadgottoknowhewashere,orhewouldbebesiegedbycommunicationsfromtheIndiaOfficeandthePrimeMinisterandhiscurewouldberuined.IamboundtosayScudderplayedupsplendidlywhenhecametobreakfast.HefixedPaddockwithhiseyeglass,justlikeaBritishofficer,askedhimabouttheBoerWar,andslungoutatmealotofstuffaboutimaginarypals.Paddockcouldn'tlearntocallme'Sir',buthe'sirred'Scudderasifhislifedependedonit.
Ilefthimwiththenewspaperandaboxofcigars,andwentdowntotheCitytillluncheon.WhenIgotbackthelift-manhadanimportantface.
'Nawstybusiness'erethismorning,Sir.GentinNo.15beenandshot'isself.They'vejusttook'imtothemortiary.Thepoliceareuptherenow.'
IascendedtoNo.15,andfoundacoupleofbobbiesandaninspectorbusymakinganexamination.Iaskedafewidioticquestions,andtheysoonkickedmeout.ThenIfoundthemanthathadvaletedScudder,andpumpedhim,butIcouldseehesuspectednothing.Hewasawhining
THETHIRTY-NINESTEPS
12
fellowwithachurchyardface,andhalf-a-crownwentfartoconsolehim.
Iattendedtheinquestnextday.Apartnerofsomepublishingfirmgaveevidencethatthedeceasedhadbroughthimwood-pulppropositions,andhadbeen,hebelieved,anagentofanAmericanbusiness.Thejuryfounditacaseofsuicidewhileofunsoundmind,andthefeweffectswerehandedovertotheAmericanConsultodealwith.IgaveScudderafullaccountoftheaffair,anditinterestedhimgreatly.Hesaidhewishedhecouldhaveattendedtheinquest,forhereckoneditwouldbeaboutasspicyastoreadone'sownobituarynotice.
Thefirsttwodayshestayedwithmeinthatbackroomhewasverypeaceful.Hereadandsmokedabit,andmadeaheapofjottingsinanote-book,andeverynightwehadagameofchess,atwhichhebeatmehollow.Ithinkhewasnursinghisnervesbacktohealth,forhehadhadaprettytryingtime.ButonthethirddayIcouldseehewasbeginningtogetrestless.HefixedupalistofthedaystillJune15th,andtickedeachoffwitharedpencil,makingremarksinshorthandagainstthem.Iwouldfindhimsunkinabrownstudy,withhissharpeyesabstracted,andafterthosespellsofmeditationhewasapttobeverydespondent.
ThenIcouldseethathebegantogetedgyagain.Helistenedforlittlenoises,andwasalwaysaskingmeifPaddockcouldbetrusted.Onceortwicehegotverypeevish,andapologizedforit.Ididn'tblamehim.Imadeeveryallowance,forhehadtakenonafairlystiffjob.
Itwasnotthesafetyofhisownskinthattroubledhim,butthesuccessoftheschemehehadplanned.Thatlittlemanwascleangritallthrough,withoutasoftspotinhim.Onenighthewasverysolemn.
'Say,Hannay,'hesaid,'IjudgeIshouldletyouabitdeeperintothisbusiness.Ishouldhatetogooutwithoutleavingsomebodyelsetoputupafight.'AndhebegantotellmeindetailwhatIhadonlyheardfromhimvaguely.
Ididnotgivehimverycloseattention.Thefactis,Iwasmoreinterestedinhisownadventuresthaninhishighpolitics.IreckonedthatKarolidesandhisaffairswerenotmybusiness,leavingallthattohim.Soalotthathesaidslippedcleanoutofmymemory.IrememberthathewasveryclearthatthedangertoKarolideswouldnotbegintillhehadgotto
THETHIRTY-NINESTEPS
13
London,andwouldcomefromtheveryhighestquarters,wheretherewouldbenothoughtofsuspicion.Hementionedthenameofawoman-JuliaCzechenyi-ashavingsomethingtodowiththedanger.Shewouldbethedecoy,Igathered,togetKarolidesoutofthecareofhisguards.Hetalked,too,aboutaBlackStoneandamanthatlispedinhisspeech,andhedescribedveryparticularlysomebodythatheneverreferredtowithoutashudder-anoldmanwithayoungvoicewhocouldhoodhiseyeslikeahawk.
Hespokeagooddealaboutdeath,too.Hewasmortallyanxiousaboutwinningthroughwithhisjob,buthedidn'tcarearushforhislife.'Ireckonit'slikegoingtosleepwhenyouareprettywelltiredout,andwakingtofindasummerdaywiththescentofhaycominginatthewindow.IusedtothankGodforsuchmorningswaybackintheBlue-Grasscountry,andIguessI'llthankHimwhenIwakeupontheothersideofJordan.'
Nextdayhewasmuchmorecheerful,andreadthelifeofStonewallJacksonmuchofthetime.IwentouttodinnerwithaminingengineerIhadgottoseeonbusiness,andcamebackabouthalf-pasttenintimeforourgameofchessbeforeturningin.
Ihadacigarinmymouth,Iremember,asIpushedopenthesmoking-roomdoor.Thelightswerenotlit,whichstruckmeasodd.IwonderedifScudderhadturnedinalready.
Isnappedtheswitch,buttherewasnobodythere.ThenIsawsomethinginthefarcornerwhichmademedropmycigarandfallintoacoldsweat.
Myguestwaslyingsprawledonhisback.Therewasalongknifethroughhisheartwhichskeweredhimtothefloor.
THETHIRTY-NINESTEPS
14
CHAPTERTWOTheMilkman
SetsOutonhisTravels
Isatdowninanarmchairandfeltverysick.Thatlastedformaybefiveminutes,andwassucceededbyafitofthehorrors.ThepoorstaringwhitefaceonthefloorwasmorethanIcouldbear,andImanagedtogetatable-clothandcoverit.ThenIstaggeredtoacupboard,foundthebrandyandswallowedseveralmouthfuls.Ihadseenmendieviolentlybefore;indeedIhadkilledafewmyselfintheMatabeleWar;butthiscold-bloodedindoorbusinesswasdifferent.StillImanagedtopullmyselftogether.Ilookedatmywatch,andsawthatitwashalf-pastten.
Anideaseizedme,andIwentovertheflatwithasmall-toothcomb.Therewasnobodythere,noranytraceofanybody,butIshutteredandboltedallthewindowsandputthechainonthedoor.Bythistimemywitswerecomingbacktome,andIcouldthinkagain.Ittookmeaboutanhourtofigurethethingout,andIdidnothurry,for,unlessthemurderercameback,Ihadtillaboutsixo'clockinthemorningformycogitations.
Iwasinthesoup-thatwasprettyclear.AnyshadowofadoubtImighthavehadaboutthetruthofScudder'stalewasnowgone.Theproofofitwaslyingunderthetable-cloth.Themenwhoknewthatheknewwhatheknewhadfoundhim,andhadtakenthebestwaytomakecertainofhissilence.Yes;buthehadbeeninmyroomsfourdays,andhisenemiesmusthavereckonedthathehadconfidedinme.SoIwouldbethenexttogo.Itmightbethatverynight,ornextday,orthedayafter,butmynumberwasupallright.ThensuddenlyIthoughtofanotherprobability.SupposingIwentoutnowandcalledinthepolice,orwenttobedandletPaddockfindthebodyandcalltheminthemorning.WhatkindofastorywasItotellaboutScudder?IhadliedtoPadd
温馨提示
- 1. 本站所有资源如无特殊说明,都需要本地电脑安装OFFICE2007和PDF阅读器。图纸软件为CAD,CAXA,PROE,UG,SolidWorks等.压缩文件请下载最新的WinRAR软件解压。
- 2. 本站的文档不包含任何第三方提供的附件图纸等,如果需要附件,请联系上传者。文件的所有权益归上传用户所有。
- 3. 本站RAR压缩包中若带图纸,网页内容里面会有图纸预览,若没有图纸预览就没有图纸。
- 4. 未经权益所有人同意不得将文件中的内容挪作商业或盈利用途。
- 5. 人人文库网仅提供信息存储空间,仅对用户上传内容的表现方式做保护处理,对用户上传分享的文档内容本身不做任何修改或编辑,并不能对任何下载内容负责。
- 6. 下载文件中如有侵权或不适当内容,请与我们联系,我们立即纠正。
- 7. 本站不保证下载资源的准确性、安全性和完整性, 同时也不承担用户因使用这些下载资源对自己和他人造成任何形式的伤害或损失。
最新文档
- 中班语言木篱笆课件
- 2024年数显仪表项目建议书
- 2024年旅游服务项目合作计划书
- 罐头食品仓储运输合同范例
- 酒精运输合同样本
- 通信工程居间合作协议样本
- 餐饮业搬迁配送合同
- 花店装修工程质量要求
- 矿产跨境运输协议范例
- 文体办公用品运输合作协议
- 人教版数学四年级上册期中考试试卷及完整答案【历年真题】
- 交通事故误工费补偿协议书
- 2024年时政考题及答案(共200题)
- 押广东广州卷第24-25题(二次函数、特殊四边形中动点问题)(解析版)-备战2024年中考数学
- 广东省茂名市选调生考试(行政职业能力测验)综合能力测试题新版
- 不锈钢电梯门套施工合同
- 华为认证智能协作中级 HCIP-Collaboration H11-861考试题库及答案
- 感冒清热胶囊的药理机制研究
- 2024华能海南昌江核电限公司应届高校毕业生招聘公开引进高层次人才和急需紧缺人才笔试参考题库(共500题)答案详解版
- 24秋国家开放大学《计算机系统与维护》实验1-13参考答案
- 走进民航智慧树知到期末考试答案章节答案2024年中国民航大学
评论
0/150
提交评论