buchan john the 39 steps

7/28/2019 Buchan John the 39 Steps

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The Thirty-Nine Steps

John B uc han I Th e M an W ho Di ed II The M il kma n Se ts Out on his Tr ave ls I II T heA dv en tu re o f t he L it er ar y I nn ke ep er I V T he A dv en tu re o f t he R ad ic al C an di da te V T he A dv en tu re o f t he

S pectacled R oadm an V I T he A dv en tu re o f t he B al d A rchaeo lo gi st V II T he D ry -F ly F is herm an V II I T he

C om in g o f t he B la ck S to ne I X T he T hi rt y- Ni ne S te ps X V ar io us P ar ti es C on ve rg in g o n t he S ea

T h is p ag e cop yr ig ht 1 99 9 B lack mask O nl in e.

T O T HO MA S A RT HU R N EL SO N ( LO TH IA N A ND B OR DE R H OR SE )

M y D ear T om my ,

Y ou and I h av e l on g cheri sh ed an aff ecti on f or t hat element al t yp e o f t al e w hi ch A meri cans cal l t he ' di me

n ov el ' a nd w hi ch w e k no w a s t he ' sh oc ke r' - t he r om an ce w he re t he i nc id en ts d ef y t he p ro ba bi li ti es , a nd

m ar ch j us t i ns id e t he b or de rs o f t he p os si bl e. D ur in g a n i ll ne ss l as t w in te r I e xh au st ed m y s to re o f t ho se

a id s t o c he er fu lne ss , a nd w as d ri ve n t o wr it e on e f or m ys el f. T hi s l it tl e v ol um e i s t he r es ul t, a nd I s ho ul d

l ike t o p ut y our na me o n i t i n m emo ry o f o ur l ong f ri end shi p, i n t he da ys w he n t he w il de st f ic ti on s a re s o

m uch l es s i mp ro babl e t han t he f acts .

J.B.

C ha pt er O ne . T he Ma n W ho D ie d

I r et ur ne d f ro m t he C it y a bo ut t hr ee o 'c lo ck o n t ha t M ay a ft er no on p re tt y w el l d is gu st ed w it h l if e. I h ad

been three months in the Old Country, and was fed up with it. If anyone had told me a year ago that I

w ou ld ha ve b ee n f ee li ng l ik e t ha t I s ho ul d h av e l au gh ed a t h im ; b ut t he re w as t he f ac t. T he w ea th er m ad e

m e l iv er is h, t he t al k o f t he o rd in ar y E ng li sh man m ad e m e s ick, I cou ld n' t g et eno ug h exercis e, and t he

a mu se me nt s o f L on do n s ee me d a s f la t a s s od a- w at er t ha t h as b ee n s ta nd in g i n t he s un . ' Ri ch ar d

H an nay, ' I k ep t t el li ng m ys el f, ' yo u h av e g ot i nt o t he w ro ng d it ch , m y f ri en d, and y ou h ad b et ter cli mb

out.'

I t ma de m e bit e my l ips t o t hi nk of t he pl ans I ha d be en bui lding up t hos e la st ye ar s i n Bul awa yo. I ha d

got my pile - not one of the big ones, but good enough for me; and I had figured out all kinds of ways of e nj oy in g m ys el f. M y f at he r h ad b ro ug ht m e o ut f ro m S co tl an d a t t he a ge o f s ix , a nd I h ad n ev er b ee n

ho me s in ce ; s o Eng la nd w as a s or t of Ar abi an N ight s t o m e, a nd I c ount ed on s top pi ng t he re f or t he r es t

of m y da ys .

But f rom t he f irs t I wa s di sa ppoi nt ed wi th i t. I n a bout a w ee k I wa s t ir ed of s ee ing s ight s, a nd i n l es s t ha n

a m on th I h ad ha d e nou gh o f r es ta ur an ts a nd t he at re s a nd r ac e- me et ing s. I ha d no r ea l p al t o g o a bou t

w it h, w hi ch p ro babl y exp lain s t hi ng s. P lent y o f p eo pl e i nv it ed m e t o t heir h ou ses, b ut t hey d id n' t s eem

m uc h i nt er es te d i n m e. T he y w ou ld f li ng m e a qu es ti on o r t wo a bou t S out h A fr ic a, a nd t he n g et o n t he ir

o wn a ff ai rs . A l ot o f I mp er ia li st l ad ie s a sk ed m e t o t ea t o m ee t s ch oo lm as te rs f ro m N ew Z ea la nd a nd

e di to rs f ro m V an co uv er , a nd t ha t w as t he d is ma le st b us in es s o f a ll . H er e w as I , t hi rt y- se ve n y ea rs o ld ,s ou nd i n wi nd a nd l im b, wi th e nou gh m one y t o h av e a g ood t ime , ya wni ng m y h ea d o ff a ll da y. I h ad j us t

a bou t s et tl ed t o c le ar o ut a nd ge t ba ck t o t he v el d, f or I w as t he b es t b or ed m an i n t he Un it ed K in gd om .

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T hat aft er no on I h ad b een w or ry in g m y b ro kers abo ut i nv es tm en ts t o g iv e m y m in d s om et hi ng t o w or k

on, a nd on my wa y home I t ur ne d i nt o my c lub - r at he r a po t- hous e, whi ch t ook i n C ol oni al me mbe rs . I

ha d a l ong dr in k, a nd r ea d t he e ve ni ng pa pe rs . T he y w er e f ul l of t he r ow i n t he Ne ar Ea st , a nd t he re wa s

a n a rt ic le a bo ut K ar ol id es , t he G re ek P re mi er . I r at he r f an ci ed t he c ha p. F ro m a ll a cc ou nt s h e s ee me d

t he one bi g m an i n t he s how; a nd he pl aye d a s tr ai ght ga me t oo, whi ch w as mo re t ha n c oul d be s ai d f or

m os t o f t he m. I g at he re d t ha t t he y h at ed h im p re tt y b la ck ly i n B er li n a nd V ie nn a, b ut t ha t w e w er e g oi ngt o s ti ck b y hi m, a nd on e pa pe r s ai d t ha t h e wa s t he on ly b ar ri er b et we en E ur ope a nd Ar ma ge dd on . I

r em em be r won de ri ng i f I c oul d ge t a j ob i n t hos e p ar ts . I t s tr uc k m e t ha t Al ba ni a wa s t he s or t o f p la ce

t hat m ig ht k eep a m an f ro m y aw ni ng .

A bou t s ix o 'c lo ck I w ent h om e, d re ss ed , di ne d a t t he C af e R oy al , a nd t ur ne d i nt o a m us ic -ha ll . I t wa s a

s il ly s how , a ll c ap er in g wo me n a nd m on ke y- fa ce d m en , a nd I d id n ot s ta y l on g. T he n ig ht w as f in e a nd

c le ar as I wal ked ba ck t o t he fl at I had hi re d ne ar Por tl and Pl ac e. The c rowd s ur ge d pa st me on t he

pavements, busy and chattering, and I envied the people for having something to do. These shop-girls

a nd c le rk s a nd d an di es a nd p ol ic em en h ad s om e i nt er es t i n l if e t ha t k ep t t he m g oi ng . I g av e h al f- a- cr ow n

t o a be gga r b ec au se I s aw hi m ya wn; he w as a f el lo w- suf fe re r. A t Oxf or d C ir cus I l ooke d u p i nt o t hes pri ng s ky a nd I ma de a vow. I woul d give t he Old Count ry a not he r da y to f it m e int o s om et hi ng; i f

n ot hi ng h ap pe ne d, I w ou ld t ak e t he n ex t b oa t f or t he C ap e.

M y f la t w as t he f ir st f lo or i n a n ew b lo ck b eh in d L an gh am P la ce . T he re w as a c om mo n s ta ir ca se , w it h a

porter and a liftman at the entrance, but there was no restaurant or anything of that sort, and each flat was

qui te s hu t of f f rom t he ot he rs . I h at e s er va nt s on t he pr em is es , s o I h ad a f el low t o l oo k a ft er m e w ho

c ame i n b y t he d ay. He a rr ive d be for e e ight o 'c lo ck e ve ry m or ni ng a nd u se d t o de pa rt a t s eve n, f or I

n ev er d in ed a t h om e.

I w as j us t f it ti ng my k ey i nt o th e door whe n I not ic ed a ma n a t my e lbow. I h ad not s ee n hi m a ppr oa ch,

a nd t he s ud de n a pp ea ra nc e m ade m e s ta rt . H e wa s a s li m m an, wi th a s hor t b ro wn b ea rd a nd s ma ll ,gi ml et y bl ue e ye s. I r ec ogni ze d hi m a s the oc cu pant of a f lat on t he t op f loor, wi th whom I ha d pa ss ed t he

t ime of da y on t he s ta ir s.

' Ca n I s pe ak t o you ?' he s ai d. ' Ma y I c om e i n f or a m inut e? ' He wa s s te adyi ng h is voi ce w it h a n e ff or t,

a nd h is h an d w as p aw in g m y a rm .

I go t m y do or op en a nd mo ti on ed hi m i n. No s oon er wa s h e ove r t he t hr es hol d t ha n he m ade a d as h f or

m y b ac k r oo m, wh er e I u se d t o s mok e a nd w ri te m y l et te rs . T he n he bo lt ed ba ck .

' Is t he d oo r l oc ke d? ' h e a sk ed f ev er is hl y, a nd h e f as te ne d t he c ha in w it h h is o wn h an d.

' I' m v er y s or ry ,' h e s ai d h um bl y. ' It 's a m igh ty l ib er ty , b ut y ou l oo ke d t he k in d o f m an w ho w ou ld

u nd er st an d. I 'v e h ad y ou i n m y m in d a ll t hi s w ee k w he n t hi ngs g ot t ro ubl es om e. Sa y, w il l y ou do m e a

good turn?'

' I' ll l is te n t o y ou ,' I s ai d. ' Th at 's a ll I 'l l p rom is e. ' I w as ge tt in g w or ri ed b y t he a nt ic s o f t hi s n er vo us l it tl e

chap.

T he re w as a t ra y o f d ri nk s o n a t ab le b es id e h im , f ro m w hi ch he f il le d hi ms el f a s ti ff w hi sk y- an d- so da . H e

dr ank i t of f i n t hr ee g ul ps , a nd c ra cke d t he gl as s a s he s et i t d ow n.

' Pa rd on ,' h e s ai d, ' I' m a b it r at tl ed t on ig ht . Y ou s ee , I ha ppe n a t t hi s m om en t t o be d ea d. '

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I s at down i n a n a rm cha ir and l it my pipe .

' Wh at d oe s i t f ee l l ike ?' I a sk ed . I wa s pr et ty c er ta in t ha t I h ad t o d ea l w it h a m ad ma n.

A s mi le f li ck er ed o ve r hi s dr aw n f ac e. ' I' m n ot ma d - y et . Sa y, Si r, I 'v e be en wa tc hi ng yo u, a nd I r ec kon

yo u' re a c ool c us to me r. I r ec kon, t oo , y ou' re a n h on es t m an , a nd no t a fr ai d o f pl ayi ng a bo ld ha nd . I 'm

going to confide in you. I need help worse than any ma n ever needed it, and I want to know if I cancou nt y ou i n. '

' Ge t on wi th you r ya rn ,' I s ai d, ' and I 'l l t el l you. '

H e s ee me d t o b ra ce h im se lf f or a g re at e ff or t, a nd t he n s ta rt ed o n t he q ue er es t r ig ma ro le . I d id n' t g et h ol d

of it at first, and I had to stop and ask him questions. But here is the gist of it:

H e w as a n A me ri ca n, f ro m K en tu ck y, a nd a ft er c ol le ge , b ei ng p re tt y w el l o ff , h e h ad s ta rt ed o ut t o s ee

t he wor ld. H e wr ot e a bi t, a nd ac te d a s wa r c or re sponde nt f or a C hic ago pa per , a nd s pe nt a ye ar or t wo

i n S ou th -E as te rn E ur op e. I g at he re d t ha t h e w as a f in e l in gu is t, a nd h ad g ot t o k no w p re tt y w el l t hes oc ie ty i n t ho se p ar ts . H e s po ke f am il ia rl y o f m an y n am es t ha t I r em em be re d t o h av e s ee n i n t he

newspapers.

H e h ad p la ye d a bo ut w it h p ol it ic s, h e t ol d m e, a t f ir st f or t he i nt er es t o f t he m, a nd t he n b ec au se h e

c ou ld n' t h el p h im se lf . I r ea d h im a s a s ha rp , r es tl es s f el lo w, w ho a lw ay s w an te d t o g et d ow n t o t he r oo ts

o f t hi ngs . H e g ot a l it tl e f ur th er d ow n t ha n he w an te d.

I am gi ving you wha t he t ol d me as we ll a s I c ould ma ke i t out . Awa y be hind a ll t he Gover nme nt s and t he

arm ies t here w as a b ig s ub terr an ean m ov em en t g oi ng o n, eng in eered b y v er y d an gero us p eo pl e. H e h ad

c om e o n i t b y a cc id en t; i t f as ci na te d h im ; h e w en t f ur th er , a nd t he n h e g ot c au gh t. I g at he re d t ha t m os t o f

t he p eo pl e i n i t w er e t he s or t o f e du ca te d a na rc hi st s t ha t m ak e r ev ol ut io ns , b ut t ha t b es id e t he m t he rew er e f ina nc ie rs w ho w er e p la yi ng f or m on ey . A c le ve r m an c an m ak e bi g p rof it s o n a f al li ng m ar ke t, a nd

i t s uit ed t he book of bot h cl ass es t o se t Eur ope by the ea rs.

H e t ol d m e s om e q ue er t hi ng s t ha t e xp la in ed a l ot t ha t h ad p uz zl ed m e - t hi ng s t ha t ha pp en ed i n t he

B al ka n W ar , h ow o ne s ta te s ud de nl y c am e o ut o n t op , w hy a ll ia nc es w er e m ad e a nd b ro ke n, w hy

c er ta in m en d is ap pe ar ed , a nd w he re t he s in ew s o f w ar c am e f ro m. T he a im o f t he w ho le c on sp ir ac y w as

t o g et R us si a and G er many at l og gerh eads .

W hen I ask ed w hy , h e s ai d t hat t he anarchi st l ot t ho ug ht i t w ou ld g iv e t hem t heir chance. E very th in g

w ou ld b e i n t he m el ti ng - p ot , a nd t he y l oo ke d t o s ee a n ew w or ld e me rg e. T he c ap it al is ts w ou ld r ak e i nt he s he ke ls , a nd m ak e f or tu ne s b y b uy in g u p w re ck ag e. C ap it al , h e s ai d, h ad n o c on sc ie nc e a nd n o

f at he rl an d. B es id es , t he J ew w as b eh in d i t, a nd t he J ew h at ed R us si a w or se t ha n h el l.

' Do y ou w on de r? ' h e c ri ed . ' Fo r t hr ee h un dr ed y ea rs t he y h av e b ee n p er se cu te d, a nd t hi s i s t he r et ur n

m at ch f or t he p og ro ms . T he J ew i s e ve ry wh er e, b ut y ou h av e t o g o f ar d ow n t he b ac ks ta ir s t o f in d h im .

T ak e a ny b ig Te ut oni c b us ine ss c on ce rn . I f y ou h av e d ea li ngs w it h i t t he f ir st m an yo u me et i s P ri nc e v on

u nd Z u S om et hi ng , an elegant y ou ng m an w ho t al ks E to n- an d- Harr ow E ng li sh . B ut h e cut s n o i ce. I f y ou r

business is big, you get behind him and find a prognathous Westphalian with a retreating brow and the

m an ne rs o f a h og . H e i s t he G er ma n b us in es s m an t ha t g iv es y ou r E ngl is h p ap er s t he s ha ke s. B ut i f yo u' re

on the bi gges t ki nd of j ob a nd ar e bound t o ge t to the re al bos s, ten to one you a re brought up a ga ins t a

l it tl e w hi te -f ac ed J ew i n a b at h- cha ir w it h a n e ye l ik e a r at tl es na ke . Y es , S ir , h e i s t he m an w ho i s r ul in g

t he wor ld j us t now, a nd he ha s his kni fe in t he Empi re of t he Tz ar , be ca use hi s a unt wa s out ra ge d a nd hi s

f at her f lo gg ed i n s om e o ne-h or se l ocat io n o n t he V ol ga.'

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I c ou ld n ot h el p s ay in g t ha t h is J ew -a na rc hi st s s ee me d t o h av e g ot l ef t b eh in d a l it tl e.

' Ye s a nd n o,' he s ai d. ' The y won up t o a poi nt , but t he y s tr uc k a bi gge r t hi ng t ha n mon ey, a t hi ng t ha t

cou ld n' t b e b ou gh t, t he o ld element al f ig ht in g i ns ti ncts o f m an . I f y ou 'r e g oi ng t o b e k il led y ou i nv en t s om e

ki nd o f f la g a nd c ou nt ry t o f igh t f or , a nd i f yo u s ur vi ve y ou ge t t o l ove t he t hi ng. Th os e f oo li sh d evi ls o f

s ol di er s h ave f ou nd s om et hi ng t he y c ar e f or , a nd t ha t h as u ps et t he p re tt y p la n l ai d i n B er li n a nd V ie nn a.B ut m y f ri en ds h av en 't p la ye d t he ir l as t c ar d b y a l on g s ig ht . T he y' ve g ot te n t he a ce u p t he ir s le ev es , a nd

unl ess I c an ke ep a li ve for a m onth the y a re goi ng t o pl ay it a nd w in.'

' But I t ho ugh t yo u w er e d ea d, ' I put i n.

' MO RS J AN UA V IT AE ,' h e s mi le d. ( I r ec og ni ze d t he q uo ta ti on : i t w as a bo ut a ll t he L at in I k ne w. ) ' I' m

c omi ng t o t ha t, but I 've go t t o p ut

you wi se a bout a lo t of t hi ng s f ir st . If you re ad your ne ws pa pe r, I gue ss you know t he na me o f

Constantine Karolides?'

I s at up a t t ha t, f or I h ad be en r ea di ng a bout hi m t ha t v er y a ft er no on.

' He is t he ma n t ha t ha s w rec ke d a ll t he ir ga me s. He i s t he one bi g br ai n i n t he whol e s how, a nd he

ha pp en s a ls o t o be a n h on es t m an. Th er ef or e h e ha s be en m ar ke d d ow n t he se t we lv e m on th s pa st . I

f ound t hat out - not tha t i t wa s di ffi cul t, for a ny fool coul d gue ss as muc h. But I f ound out the wa y the y

w er e g oi ng t o g et hi m, a nd t ha t kno wl edg e w as de adl y. Th at 's w hy I ha ve ha d t o de ce as e.'

H e h ad a no th er d ri nk , a nd I m ix ed i t f or h im m ys el f, f or I w as g et ti ng i nt er es te d i n t he b egg ar .

' Th ey c an 't g et h im i n h is o wn l an d, f or he h as a b od yg ua rd o f E pi ro te s t ha t w ou ld s ki n t he ir g ra nd mo th er s. B ut o n t he 1 5t h d ay o f J un e h e i s c om in g t o t hi s c it y. T he B ri ti sh F or ei gn O ff ic e ha s t ak en

t o h av in g I nt er na ti on al t ea -p ar ti es , a nd t he b ig ge st o f t he m i s d ue o n t ha t d at e. N ow K ar ol id es i s

r ecko ned t he p ri ncip al g uest , and i f m y f ri en ds h av e t heir w ay h e w il l n ev er r et ur n t o h is adm ir in g

countrymen.'

' Th at 's s im pl e e no ug h, a ny ho w, ' I s ai d. ' Yo u c an w ar n h im a nd k ee p h im a t h om e. '

' An d p la y t he ir ga me ?' he a ske d s ha rpl y. ' If he doe s not c om e t he y w in, f or he 's t he o nl y m an t ha t c an

s tr ai gh te n o ut t he t an gl e. A nd i f h is G ov er nm en t a re w ar ne d h e w on 't c om e, f or h e d oe s n ot k no w h ow

big the stakes will be on June the 15th.'

' Wh at a bo ut t he B ri ti sh G ov er nm en t? ' I s ai d. ' Th ey 'r e n ot g oi ng t o l et t he ir g ue st s b e m ur de re d. T ip t he m

t he w in k, and t hey' ll t ak e ext ra p recaut io ns .'

' No g oo d. T hey m ig ht s tu ff y ou r cit y w it h p lain -clo th es d et ecti ves and d ou bl e t he p ol ice and C on st an ti ne

w ou ld s ti ll b e a d oo me d m an . M y f ri en ds a re n ot p la yi ng t hi s g am e f or c an dy . T he y w an t a b ig o cc as io n

f or t he t ak in g o ff , w it h t he e ye s o f a ll E ur op e o n i t. H e' ll b e m ur de re d b y a n A us tr ia n, a nd t he re 'l l b e

plenty of evidence to show the connivance of the big folk in Vienna and Berlin. It will all be an infernal lie,

of c our se , but t he c as e w il l l ook b la ck e nou gh t o t he w or ld. I 'm not t al ki ng h ot a ir , my f ri end. I ha ppe n t o

k no w e ve ry d et ai l o f t he he ll is h c on tr iv an ce , a nd I c an t el l y ou i t w il l b e t he mo st f ini sh ed p ie ce of

blackguardism since the Borgias. But it's not going to come off if there's a certain man who knows the

whe el s of the busi ne ss a live r ight her e i n London on the 15th da y of June . And t ha t ma n is goi ng t o be

y ou r s erv an t, F rank li n P . S cud der .'

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I wa s ge tt ing t o l ike t he l it tle c ha p. Hi s j aw ha d s hut l ike a r at tra p, a nd t he re wa s t he f ir e of ba tt le i n hi s

gim le ty e ye s. If he was s pinni ng me a ya rn he c oul d ac t up to i t.

' Wh er e di d yo u f ind o ut t hi s s to ry ?' I a ske d.

' I g ot t he f ir st h in t i n a n i nn o n t he A ch en se e i n Ty ro l. T ha t s et m e i nq ui ri ng, a nd I c ol le ct ed m y o the r c lu esi n a f ur -s ho p i n t he G al ic ia n q ua rt er o f B ud a, i n a S tr an ge rs ' C lu b i n V ie nn a, a nd i n a l it tl e b oo ks ho p o ff

t he R ac kn it zs tr as se i n L ei ps ic . I c om pl et ed m y e vi de nc e t en d ay s a go i n P ar is . I c an 't t el l y ou t he d et ai ls

now, for it 's s omet hing of a his tor y. When I wa s quit e sur e i n my own mi nd I j udge d it my bus ine ss t o

d is ap pe ar , a nd I r ea ch ed t hi s c it y b y a m ig ht y q ue er c ir cu it . I l ef t P ar is a d an di fi ed y ou ng

F rench- Am er ican , and I s ai led f ro m H am bu rg a J ew d iamo nd m er ch an t. I n N or way I w as an E ng li sh

s tu dent o f I bs en col lect in g m at er ials f or l ectu res, b ut w hen I l ef t B er gen I w as a cin em a- man w it h s peci al

s ki f il ms . A nd I c am e h er e f ro m L ei th w it h a l ot o f p ul p- wo od p ro po si ti on s i n m y p oc ke t t o p ut b ef or e

t he L on do n n ew sp ap er s. T il l y es terd ay I t ho ug ht I h ad m ud di ed m y t rail s om e, and w as f eeli ng p rett y

h app y. T hen . .. '

T he r ec ol le ct io n s ee me d t o u ps et h im , a nd h e g ul pe d d ow n s om e m or e w hi sk y.

' The n I s aw a ma n s ta ndi ng i n t he s tr ee t o ut si de t hi s bl oc k. I u se d t o s ta y c lo se i n my r oom a ll da y, a nd

onl y s li p out a ft er da rk f or a n hour or t wo. I wa tc he d hi m f or a bi t f rom m y wi ndow, a nd I t hought I

r ec ogni ze d hi m . .. He c am e i n a nd s poke t o t he po rt er .. . W he n I c am e ba ck f rom m y w al k l as t n ight I

found a c ard in my l ett er- box. It bore the na me of the man I wa nt l eas t to me et on God's e art h.'

I t hi nk t ha t t he l oo k i n m y c om pa ni on 's e ye s, t he s he er n ak ed s ca re o n h is f ac e, c om pl et ed m y c on vi ct io n

of hi s ho ne st y. My ow n voi ce s ha rpe ne d a b it a s I a sk ed hi m wh at he di d ne xt .

'I r ea liz ed t ha t I wa s bott led as s ure as a pic kle d herr ing, and that ther e wa s only one wa y out. I had t odi e. I f m y p ur sue rs kne w I wa s de ad t he y w oul d go t o s le ep a ga in. '

' Ho w d id y ou m an ag e i t? '

' I t ol d t he ma n t ha t va le ts me t ha t I wa s fe el in g pr et ty ba d, a nd I got mys elf up t o l ook l ike d ea th. Tha t

wa sn' t di ff ic ul t, f or I 'm no s louc h a t di sgui se s. The n I got a c or ps e - you c an a lwa ys ge t a body in Londo n

if you know whe re to go f or it . I fe tched i t bac k in a trunk on the top of a f our-whe ele r, a nd I had t o be

a ss is te d up st ai rs t o m y r oom . Y ou s ee I ha d t o p il e u p s om e e vi de nc e f or t he i nq ue st . I we nt t o be d a nd

got my ma n t o m ix m e a s le epi ng- dr aught , a nd t he n t ol d h im t o c le ar out . He wa nt ed t o f et ch a d oc tor ,

but I swore some and said I couldn't abide leeches. When I was left alone I started in to fake up thatc or ps e. He wa s m y s iz e, a nd I j ud ge d ha d p er is he d f rom t oo m uc h a lc oho l, s o I put s om e s pi ri ts ha ndy

a bout t he pl ac e. T he j aw wa s t he w ea k p oi nt i n t he l ik en es s, s o I bl ew i t a wa y w it h a r ev ol ve r. I d ar es ay

t he re w il l b e s om eb od y t om or ro w t o s we ar t o h av in g h ea rd a s ho t, b ut t he re a re n o n ei gh bo ur s o n m y

f loo r, a nd I gue ss ed I c oul d r is k i t. So I l ef t t he b ody i n be d d re ss ed up i n m y pyj am as , w it h a r evol ve r

l yi ng on t he be d- cl ot he s a nd a c ons id er abl e m es s a rou nd. T he n I got i nt o a s ui t of c lot he s I h ad ke pt

w ai ti ng f or e me rg en ci es . I d id n' t d ar e t o s ha ve f or f ea r o f l ea vi ng t ra ck s, a nd b es id es , i t w as n' t a ny k in d

of

us e my t rying to ge t i nt o t he s tr ee ts. I ha d ha d you i n my mi nd a ll da y, a nd t her e s ee me d not hi ng to do but

t o ma ke a n a ppe al t o you. I wa tc he d f rom m y wi ndow t il l I s aw y ou c ome home , a nd t he n s li ppe d dow n

t he s ta ir t o m ee t y ou . .. The re , S ir , I g ue ss y ou k now a bo ut a s m uc h a s m e of t hi s bus ine ss .'

H e s at b li nk in g l ik e an o wl , f lu tt er in g w it h n er ves and y et d es perately d et er mi ned. B y t hi s t im e I w as

P a g e 5


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pretty well convinced that he was going straight with me. It was the wildest sort of narrative, but I had

he ar d in my t ime m any s te ep t al es w hi ch ha d t ur ne d ou t t o be t rue , a nd I h ad ma de a pr ac ti ce of j udgi ng

t he ma n r athe r tha n t he s tor y. I f he h ad wa nt ed t o ge t a l oc ati on in my f la t, a nd t he n c ut m y t hr oa t, he

w ou ld h av e p it ch ed a m il der y ar n.

' Ha nd m e yo ur k ey, ' I s ai d, ' and I 'l l t ake a l ook a t t he c or ps e. E xc us e my c au ti on, b ut I 'm b ou nd t o ve ri fy

a bit if I can.'

He s ho ok h is he ad m our nf ul ly. ' I r ec kon ed y ou' d a sk f or t ha t, but I ha ve n' t got i t. I t' s o n m y c ha in on t he

d re ss in g- ta bl e. I h ad t o l ea ve i t b eh in d, f or I c ou ld n' t l ea ve a ny c lu es t o b re ed s us pi ci on s. T he g en tr y w ho

a re a ft er m e a re p re tt y b ri gh t- ey ed c it iz en s. Y ou 'l l h av e t o t ak e m e o n t ru st f or t he n ig ht , a nd t om or ro w

y ou 'l l g et p ro of o f t he cor ps e b us in es s r ig ht eno ug h. '

I t ho ug ht f or a n i ns ta nt o r t wo. ' Ri gh t. I 'l l t ru st yo u f or t he n ig ht . I 'l l l oc k yo u i nt o t hi s r oo m a nd k ee p t he

ke y. j us t on e w or d, M r S cu dde r. I be li ev e yo u' re s tr ai gh t, b ut i f s o b e yo u a re no t I s ho ul d wa rn y ou t ha t

I 'm a handy ma n wi th a gun.'

' Su re ,' h e s ai d, j um pi ng u p w it h s om e b ri sk ne ss . ' I h av en 't t he p ri vi le ge o f y ou r n am e, S ir , b ut l et m e t el l

you t ha t y ou' re a whi te ma n. I 'l l t ha nk yo u t o l end m e a r az or .'

I t oo k h im i nt o m y be dr oo m a nd t ur ne d h im l oo se . I n h al f a n h ou r' s t im e a f ig ur e c am e o ut t ha t I s ca rc el y

r ec og ni ze d. O nl y h is g im le ty , h un gr y e ye s w er e t he s am e. H e w as s ha ve d c le an , h is h ai r w as p ar te d i n t he

m id dl e, a nd h e h ad c ut h is e ye br ow s. F ur th er , h e c ar ri ed h im se lf a s i f h e h ad b ee n d ri ll ed , a nd w as t he

v er y m od el , e ve n t o t he br ow n c om pl ex io n, o f s om e B ri ti sh o ff ic er w ho h ad ha d a l on g s pe ll i n I nd ia . H e

ha d a m onoc le , t oo, whi ch he s tuc k i n h is e ye , a nd e ve ry t ra ce of t he Ame ri ca n ha d gone o ut of h is

speech.

' My h at ! M r S cu dd er - ' I s ta mm er ed .

' No t M r S cu dd er ,' h e cor rected; ' Capt ain T heop hi l us D ig by , o f t he 4 0t h G ur kh as , p resent l y h om e o n

l ea ve . I 'l l t ha nk y ou t o r em em be r t ha t, S ir .'

I ma de hi m up a be d i n my s moki ng- room a nd s ought m y own c ouc h, mor e c hee rf ul tha n I ha d be en f or

the past month. Things did happen occasionally, even in this God-forgotten metropolis.

I wo ke ne xt mo rni ng t o he ar my m an , Pa dd oc k, ma ki ng t he de uc e o f a r ow a t t he s moki ng- room doo r.

Paddock was a fe llow I had done a good t urn to out on t he Sel akwe , a nd I had inspanned hi m a s my

s er va nt a s s oon a s I go t t o En gl and . H e ha d a bo ut a s m uc h gi ft of t he ga b a s a hi pp opo ta mus , a nd w asnot a gr ea t ha nd a t val et ing, b ut I kne w I c oul d c ount on hi s l oya lty.

' St op t ha t r ow , P ad do ck ,' I s ai d. ' Th er e' s a f ri en d o f m in e, C ap ta in - C ap ta in ' ( I c ou ld n' t r em em be r t he

n am e) ' dos si ng do wn i n t he re . G et br ea kf as t f or t wo a nd t he n c ome a nd s pe ak t o m e. '

I t ol d P addoc k a f ine s tor y a bout how m y f ri en d w as a gr ea t s we ll , w it h h is ne rve s p re tt y ba d f rom

o ve rw or k, w ho w an te d a bs ol ut e r es t a nd s ti ll ne ss . N obo dy h ad g ot t o kn ow h e w as h er e, o r h e w ou ld

be besieged by communications from the India Office and the Prime Minister and his cure would be

r ui ne d. I a m b ou nd t o s ay S cu dd er p la ye d u p s pl en di dl y w he n h e c am e t o b re ak fa st . H e f ix ed P ad do ck

wi th his e ye gl ass , jus t l ike a B ri ti sh of fi cer , a ske d hi m a bout the B oe r W ar , and s lung out a t me a l ot of

s tu ff a bo ut i ma gi na ry p al s. P ad do ck c ou ld n' t l ea rn t o c al l m e ' Si r' , b ut h e ' si rr ed ' S cu dd er a s i f h is l if e

d ep en de d o n i t.

P a g e 6


7/62

I l eft hi m wi th t he ne ws pape r a nd a box of c igar s, a nd w ent down t o t he Ci ty t il l l unche on. Whe n I got

back the lift-man had an important face.

' Na ws ty b us in es s ' er e t hi s m or ni ng , S ir . G en t i n N o. 1 5 b ee n a nd s ho t ' is se lf . T he y' ve j us t t oo k ' im t o t he

m or ti ar y. T he p ol ic e a re u p t he re n ow .'

I a sc en de d t o N o. 15 , a nd f oun d a c oup le o f bo bb ie s a nd a n i ns pe ct or bu sy m ak in g a n e xa mi na ti on . Ia sk ed a f ew i di ot ic q ue st io ns , a nd t he y s oo n k ic ke d m e o ut . T he n I f ou nd t he m an t ha t h ad v al et ed

S cu dd er , a nd p um pe d h im , b ut I c ou ld s ee h e s us pe ct ed n ot hi ng . H e w as a w hi ni ng f el lo w w it h a

c hu rc hy ar d f ac e, a nd h al f- a -c ro wn w en t f ar t o c on so le h im .

I a tt en de d t he i nq ue st n ex t d ay . A p ar tn er o f s om e p ub li sh in g f ir m g av e e vi de nc e t ha t t he d ec ea se d h ad

brought him wood-pulp propositions, and had been, he believed, an agent of an American business. The

jury found it a case of suicide while of unsound mind, and the few effects were handed over to the

A me ri ca n C on su l t o de al w it h. I g av e S cu dd er a f ul l a cc ou nt o f t he a ff ai r, a nd i t i nt er es te d h im g re at ly . H e

s ai d he w is he d h e c ou ld h av e a tt end ed t he i nqu es t, f or h e r ec ko ne d i t w oul d be a bou t a s s pi cy a s t o r ea d

o ne's o wn o bi t uary n ot ice.

Th e f ir st t wo da ys he s ta ye d w it h m e i n t ha t ba ck r oom he w as ve ry pe ac ef ul . He r ea d a nd s mo ke d a b it ,

a nd ma de a h ea p o f j ot ti ng s i n a n ot e- bo ok, a nd e ve ry ni ght w e ha d a ga me o f c he ss , a t wh ic h h e be at

me hol low. I t hink he wa s nurs ing his ne rve s ba ck to he alt h, f or he ha d ha d a pre tty t rying t ime . But on

t he t hi rd da y I c oul d se e he wa s be gi nni ng t o ge t r es tl es s. H e f ixe d up a li st of t he day s t il l J une 15t h, a nd

t ic ke d e ac h o ff w it h a r ed p en ci l, m aki ng r em ar ks i n s ho rt ha nd a ga in st t he m. I w ou ld f in d hi m s unk i n a

brown study, with his sharp eyes abstracted, and after those spells of meditation he was apt to be very

despondent.

T he n I c ou ld s ee t ha t h e b eg an t o g et e dg y a ga in . H e l is te ne d f or l it tl e n oi se s, a nd w as a lw ay s a sk in g m e

i f P ad do ck c ou ld b e t ru st ed . O nc e o r t wi ce h e g ot v er y p ee vi sh , a nd a po lo gi ze d f or i t. I d id n' t b la me h im .I m ade e ve ry a ll ow anc e, f or he ha d t ake n on a f ai rl y s ti ff j ob.

I t w as not t he s af et y of hi s own s ki n t ha t t roubl ed hi m, bu t t he s uc ce ss of t he s ch eme h e ha d pl anne d.

T ha t l it tl e ma n w as c le an g ri t a ll t hr ou gh , w it ho ut a s of t s po t i n h im . O ne ni gh t he wa s v er y s ol em n.

' Sa y, Ha nna y,' h e s ai d, ' I j ud ge I s ho ul d l et y ou a bi t d ee pe r i nt o t hi s bu si ne ss . I s hou ld ha te t o go ou t

w it ho ut l ea vi ng s om ebo dy e ls e t o p ut u p a f ig ht .' A nd h e b eg an t o t el l m e i n d et ai l w ha t I h ad on ly h ea rd

from him vaguely.

I di d n ot g ive h im ve ry c lo se a tt en ti on. T he f ac t i s, I w as m or e i nt er es te d i n hi s o wn a dv en tu re s t ha n i n h ish ig h p ol it ic s. I r ec ko ne d t ha t K ar ol id es a nd h is a ff ai rs w er e n ot m y b us in es s, l ea vi ng a ll t ha t t o h im . S o a

l ot t ha t he s ai d s li ppe d c le an out of my me mor y. I r eme mbe r t ha t he w as ve ry c le ar t ha t t he d ange r t o

K ar ol id es w ou ld n ot b eg in t il l h e h ad g ot t o L on do n, a nd w ou ld c om e f ro m t he v er y hi gh es t q ua rt er s,

w he re t he re w ou ld b e n o t ho ug ht o f s us pi ci on . H e m en ti on ed t he n am e o f a w om an - J ul ia C ze ch en yi - a s

h av in g s om et hi ng t o d o w it h t he d an ge r. S he w ou ld b e t he d ec oy , I g at he re d, t o g et K ar ol id es o ut o f t he

c ar e o f h is g ua rd s. H e t al ke d, t oo, a bo ut a Bl ac k S ton e a nd a m an t ha t l is pe d i n h is s pe ec h, a nd h e

d es cr ib ed v er y p ar ti cu la rl y s om eb od y t ha t h e n ev er r ef er re d t o w it ho ut a s hu dd er - a n o ld m an w it h a

y ou ng v oi ce w ho c ou ld h oo d h is e ye s l ik e a h aw k.

H e s po ke a g oo d d ea l a bo ut d ea th , t oo . H e w as m or ta ll y a nx io us a bo ut w in ni ng t hr ou gh w it h h is j ob , b ut

he di dn' t c ar e a r us h f or h is l if e. ' I r ec kon i t' s l ike goi ng t o s le ep whe n you a re pr et ty we ll t ir ed out , a nd

wa ki ng t o f ind a sum me r da y wi th t he s ce nt of ha y c omi ng in at t he wi ndow. I use d t o t hank G od for s uc h

m or ni ng s w ay b ac k i n t he B lu e- Gr as s c ou nt ry , a nd I g ue ss I 'l l t ha nk H im w he n I w ak e u p o n t he o th er

P a g e 7


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s id e o f J or da n. '

Next day he was much more cheerful, and read the life of Stonewall Jackson much of the time. I went

out t o di nne r wi th a mi ni ng e ngi ne er I ha d got t o s ee on b us ine ss , a nd c ame b ac k a bout h alf -pa st te n i n

t im e f or o ur g am e of c he ss b ef or e t ur ni ng i n.

I ha d a c iga r in my mout h, I r em embe r, a s I pus he d op en t he s moki ng- room door . The l ig ht s we re not l it ,w hi ch s tr uc k m e a s o dd . I w on de re d i f S cu dd er h ad t ur ne d i n a lr ea dy .

I s na pp ed t he s wi tc h, b ut t he re w as n ob od y t he re . T he n I s aw s om et hi ng i n t he f ar c or ne r w hi ch m ad e

me dr op m y c iga r a nd f al l i nt o a c ol d s we at .

M y g ue st w as l yi ng s pr aw le d o n h is b ac k. T he re w as a l on g kn if e t hr ou gh h is h ea rt w hi ch s ke we re d h im

t o t he f lo or .

C ha pt er T wo . T he Mi lk ma n S et s O ut o n h is T ra ve ls

I s at down i n a n a rmc ha ir a nd f el t ve ry s ic k. Tha t la ste d f or m aybe f ive mi nut es , a nd wa s s uc ce ede d by a

f it of t he ho rr or s. T he po or s ta ri ng w hi te f ac e o n t he f loor w as mor e t ha n I c oul d be ar , a nd I m ana ge d t o

g et a t abl e- cl ot h a nd c ov er i t. T he n I s ta gge re d t o a

cup bo ar d, f ou nd t he b rand y and s wall ow ed s ev er al m ou th fu ls . I h ad s een m en d ie v io lent ly b ef or e;

i nd ee d I h ad k il le d a f ew m ys el f i n t he M at ab el e W ar ; b ut t hi s c ol d- bl oo de d i nd oo r b us in es s w as

d if fe re nt . S ti ll I m an ag ed t o p ul l m ys el f t og et he r. I l oo ke d a t m y w at ch , a nd s aw t ha t i t w as h al f- pa st t en .

An i de a s ei ze d me , a nd I w ent ove r t he f la t wi th a s ma ll -t oot h c om b. T he re wa s no body t he re , nor a ny

t ra ce of a nybo dy, bu t I s hut te re d a nd bo lt ed a ll t he w indow s a nd p ut t he c ha in o n t he do or . By t hi s t ime

my w it s we re c omi ng ba ck t o me , a nd I c oul d t hi nk a gai n. It t ook me about a n hour t o f igure t he t hi ngo ut , a nd I d id n ot h ur ry , f or , u nl es s t he m ur de re r c am e b ac k, I h ad t il l a bo ut s ix o 'c lo ck i n t he m or ni ng f or

my cogitations.

I wa s in the s oup - that wa s pret ty cle ar. Any s hadow of a doubt I might ha ve ha d about the tr uth of

S cu dd er 's t al e w as n ow g on e. T he p ro of o f i t w as l yi ng u nd er t he t ab le -c lo th . T he m en w ho k ne w t ha t h e

kne w w ha t he kne w ha d f ound hi m, a nd ha d t ake n t he be st wa y t o m ake c er ta in of hi s s il enc e. Y es ; but

he h ad be en i n m y r oom s f our d ays , a nd hi s e ne mi es m us t ha ve r ec kone d t ha t he ha d c onf ide d i n m e. S o

I w oul d be t he ne xt t o go. I t mi ght be t ha t ve ry ni ght , or ne xt d ay, or t he da y a ft er , b ut m y num be r wa s

u p all r ig ht . T hen s ud denl y I t ho ug ht o f ano th er p ro babi li ty . S up po si ng I w en t o ut n ow and cal led i n t he

police, or went to bed and let Paddock find the body and call them in the morning. What kind of a storyw as I t o t el l a bou t S cu dd er ? I ha d l ie d t o Pa dd oc k a bou t hi m, a nd t he w ho le t hi ng l oo ke d de sp er at el y

f is hy . I f I m ad e a c le an b re as t o f i t a nd t ol d t he po li ce e ve ry th in g h e h ad t ol d m e, t he y w oul d s im pl y l au gh

a t me . The od ds we re a t ho us an d t o o ne t ha t I w ou ld b e c ha rg ed wi th t he m ur de r, a nd t he c ir cum st ant ia l

e vi de nc e wa s s tr ong e nough t o ha ng m e. Fe w p eopl e kne w me in Engl and; I ha d n o r ea l pa l who c ou ld

c om e f or wa rd a nd s we ar t o m y c ha ra ct er . P er ha ps t ha t w as w ha t t ho se s ec re t e ne mi es w er e p la yi ng f or .

T he y w er e c le ve r e no ugh f or a ny th in g, a nd a n En gl is h p ri so n w as a s go od a wa y o f g et ti ng r id of m e t il l

a ft er J une 15t h a s a kni fe i n my c he st .

B es ide s, i f I t ol d t he w ho le s to ry , a nd b y a ny m ir ac le w as b el ie ve d, I w ou ld b e p la yi ng t he ir g am e.

K ar ol id es w ou ld s ta y a t h om e, w hi ch w as w ha t t he y w an te d. S om eh ow o r o th er t he s ig ht o f S cu dd er 's

de ad f ac e ha d m ade me a pa ss iona te b el ie ve r i n h is s che me . H e w as gon e, bu t he ha d t ake n m e i nt o hi s

c onf ide nc e, a nd I w as pr et ty we ll bo un d t o c ar ry o n hi s wo rk .

P a g e 8


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You may t hink thi s r idi culous f or a ma n in da nge r of his l if e, but t ha t was t he wa y I l ooke d a t i t. I a m a n

or di na ry s or t o f f el low , n ot b ra ve r t ha n ot he r p eo pl e, b ut I h at e t o s ee a g oo d m an d ow ne d, a nd t ha t l ong

kni fe woul d not be t he e nd of S cu dde r i f I c oul d pl ay t he ga me i n hi s pl ac e.

It t ook me an hour or two to think this out, and by that time I had come t o a decision. I must vanish

s om eh ow , a nd k ee p v an is he d t il l t he e nd o f t he s ec on d w ee k i n J un e. T he n I m us t s om eh ow f in d a w ay

t o g et i n t ou ch w it h t he G ov er nm en t p eo pl e a nd t el l t he m w ha t S cu dd er h ad t ol d m e. I w is he d t o H ea ve nhe ha d t old m e mor e, a nd t hat I ha d l is te ne d mor e c ar ef ul ly to the l it tl e he ha d t old me . I kne w not hing

but the barest facts. There was a big risk that, even if I weathered the other dangers, I would not be

believed in the end. I must take my chance of that, and hope that something might happen which would

con fi rm m y t al e i n t he eyes o f t he G ov er nm en t.

My f irs t job was t o keep going for the next three we eks. It was now t he 24t h day of May, and that

m ea nt t we nt y d ay s o f h id in g b ef or e I c ou ld v en tu re t o a pp ro ac h t he p ow er s t ha t b e. I r ec ko ne d t ha t t wo

s et s of p eop le w oul d be l ook ing f or m e - S cu dde r' s e ne mi es t o pu t me o ut of e xi st en ce , a nd t he po li ce ,

wh o wo ul d wa nt me f or S cud de r' s m ur de r. I t w as goi ng t o be a gi dd y hun t, a nd i t w as que er how t he

prospect comforted me. I had been slack so long that almost any chance of activity was welcome. WhenI had to s it a lone with that corpse and wait on Fortune I wa s no bett er than a crushe d wor m, but if my

ne ck 's s af et y w as t o h an g on my ow n w it s I wa s pr ep ar ed t o b e c he er fu l a bou t i t.

M y n ext t hou ght wa s w he th er S cud de r ha d a ny pa pe rs a bo ut hi m t o gi ve m e a b et te r c lue t o t he

business. I drew back the table-cloth and searched his pockets, for I had no longer any shrinking from

t he b ody. The f ac e wa s w onde rf ul ly c al m f or a ma n who ha d be en s tr uc k d own i n a m ome nt . The re wa s

n ot hi ng i n t he b re as t- po ck et , a nd o nl y a f ew l oo se c oi ns a nd a c ig ar -h ol de r i n t he w ai st co at . T he t ro us er s

h el d a l it tl e p en kn if e a nd s om e s il ve r, a nd t he s id e p oc ke t o f h is j ac ke t c on ta in ed a n o ld c ro co di le -s ki n

c ig ar -c as e. T he re w as n o s ig n o f t he l it tl e b la ck b oo k i n w hi ch I h ad s ee n h im m ak in g n ot es . T ha t h ad n o

d ou bt b ee n t ak en b y h is m ur de re r.

But as I l ooked up fr om my ta sk I s aw tha t some dr awer s ha d

been pulled out in the writing-table. Scudder would never have left them in that state, for he was the

t id iest o f m or t al s . S om eo ne m us t h av e b een s ear ch in g f or s om et hi ng - p er haps f or t he p ocket- bo ok .

I w en t r ou nd t he f la t a nd f ou nd t ha t e ve ry th in g h ad b ee n r an sa ck ed - t he i ns id e o f b oo ks , d ra we rs ,

c up bo ar ds , b ox es , e ve n t he p oc ke ts o f t he c lo th es i n m y w ar dr ob e, a nd t he s id eb oa rd i n t he

d in in g- ro om . T he re w as n o t ra ce o f t he b oo k. M os t l ik el y t he e ne my h ad f ou nd i t, b ut t he y h ad n ot f ou nd

i t o n S cu dd er 's b od y.

Then I got out an atlas and looked at a big map of the British Isles. My notion was to get off to some

wi ld di st ri ct , wh er e m y ve ldc ra ft w oul d be of s ome us e t o me , f or I wou ld b e l ik e a t ra ppe d r at i n a c it y. I

c on si de re d t ha t S co tl and w oul d b e be st , f or m y p eo pl e we re S co tc h a nd I c ou ld p as s a nyw he re a s a n

or di na ry Sc ot sma n. I ha d ha lf a n i de a a t f ir st t o be a Ge rma n t our is t, f or my f at he r ha d ha d Ge rma n

partners, and I had been brought up to speak the tongue pretty fluently, not to mention having put in three

y ears p ro sp ecti ng f or cop per i n G er man D am ar al an d. B ut I cal cu lated t hat i t w ou ld b e l es s con sp icuo us

t o be a S cot, a nd l es s i n a l ine wi th wha t the poli ce m ight know of m y pa st. I f ixe d on Ga ll owa y a s the

best place to go. It was the nearest wild part of Scotland, so far as I could figure it out, and from the look

o f t he m ap w as n ot o ve r t hi ck w it h p op ul at io n.

A s ea rc h i n Br ads ha w i nf or me d me t ha t a t ra in l ef t St Pa nc ra s a t 7. 10, whi ch w oul d l and me a t a ny

G al lo wa y s ta ti on i n t he l at e a ft er no on . T ha t w as w el l e no ug h, b ut a m or e i mp or ta nt m at te r w as h ow I w as

t o m ak e m y wa y t o S t Pa nc ra s, f or I w as p re tt y c er ta in t ha t Sc udd er 's f ri end s wo ul d b e w at ch in g

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out si de . Thi s puz zl ed m e f or a bi t; t he n I ha d a n i ns pi rat ion, on w hi ch I w ent t o be d an d s le pt f or t wo

troubled hours.

I g ot u p a t f ou r a nd op en ed m y be dr oo m s hu tt er s. T he f ai nt l ig ht of a f ine s um me r m or ni ng w as f loo di ng

t he s ki es , a nd t he s pa rr ow s ha d b egun t o c ha tt er . I ha d a g re at r evul si on of f ee li ng , a nd f el t a

G od -f or go tt en f oo l. M y i ncli nati on w as t o l et t hi ng s s li de, and t ru st t o t he B ri ti sh p ol ice t ak in g a

r ea so na bl e v ie w of m y c as e. B ut a s I r ev ie we d t he s it ua ti on I c ou ld f in d n o a rg um ent s t o b ri ng a ga in st m yd ec is ion o f t he p re vi ous n ig ht , s o w it h a w ry m ou th I r es ol ve d t o go o n w it h m y pl an. I w as no t f ee li ng i n

any p ar ti cu lar f un k; o nl y d is in cl in ed t o g o l oo ki ng f or t ro ub le, i f y ou u nd er st an d m e.

I h un te d o ut a w el l- us ed t we ed s ui t, a p ai r o f s tr on g n ai le d b oo ts , a nd a f la nn el s hi rt w it h a c ol la r. I nt o m y

pockets I stuffed a spare shirt, a cloth cap, some handkerchiefs, and a tooth-brush. I had drawn a good

s um i n g ol d f ro m t he b an k t wo d ay s b ef or e, i n c as e S cu dd er s ho ul d w an t m on ey , a nd I t oo k f if ty p ou nd s

of i t i n s ove re igns i n a be lt whi ch I ha d br ought ba ck f rom R hode sia . Tha t wa s a bout al l I wa nt ed. The n I

h ad a b at h, a nd c ut m y m ou st ac he , w hi ch w as l on g a nd d ro op in g, i nt o a s ho rt s tu bb ly f ri ng e.

Now came the next step. Paddock used to arrive punctually at 7.30 and let himself in with a latch-key.B ut a bo ut t we nt y m in ut es t o s ev en , a s I k ne w f ro m b it te r e xp er ie nc e, t he m il km an t ur ne d u p w it h a g re at

c la tt er o f c an s, a nd d ep os it ed m y s ha re o ut si de m y d oo r. I h ad s ee n t ha t m il km an s om et im es w he n I h ad

g one o ut f or a n e ar ly r id e. He w as a y ou ng m an a bo ut m y o wn he igh t, w it h a n i ll -n ou ri she d m ous ta ch e,

a nd he w or e a whi te ove ra ll . On hi m I s ta ke d a ll m y c ha nc es .

I w en t i nt o t he d ar kened s mo ki ng -r oo m w here t he r ay s o f m or ni ng l ig ht w er e b eg in ni ng t o creep t hr ou gh

t he s hu tt er s. T he re I b re ak fa st ed o ff a w hi sk y- an d- so da a nd s om e b is cu it s f ro m t he c up bo ar d. B y t hi s

t ime i t wa s ge tt ing on f or s ix o' cl oc k. I put a pi pe i n M y Po cke t a nd f ill ed my pouc h f rom th e t oba cc o j ar

o n t he t ab le b y t he f ir ep la ce .

A s I p ok ed i nt o t he t ob ac co m y f in ge rs t ou ch ed s om et hi ng h ar d, a nd I d re w o ut S cu dd er 's l it tl e b la ck pocket-book ...

That s eeme d to me a good omen. I li fte d the cloth fr om the body and was ama zed a t the pea ce a nd

di gni ty o f t he de ad f ac e. ' Goo dby e, ol d c ha p, ' I s ai d; ' I a m goi ng t o do my b es t f or yo u. W is h m e we ll ,

w her ev er y ou ar e. '

T he n I hu ng a bo ut i n t he h al l w ai ti ng f or t he m il km an . T ha t w as t he w or st p ar t o f t he b us ine ss , f or I w as

f ai rl y c ho ki ng t o g et o ut o f d oo rs . S ix -t hi rt y p as se d, t he n s ix -f or ty , b ut s ti ll h e d id n ot c om e. T he f oo l h ad

c hos en t hi s da y of a ll da ys t o be l at e.

A t on e m inu te a ft er t he q ua rt er t o s eve n I h ea rd t he r at tl e o f t he c ans o ut si de . I o pe ne d t he f ro nt d oo r,

a nd t he re w as m y m an , s in gl in g o ut m y c an s f rom a b un ch he c ar ri ed a nd w hi st li ng t hr oug h h is t ee th . H e

jumped a bit at the sight of me.

' Com e i n he re a mom ent ,' I s ai d. ' I wa nt a wor d wi th you.' And I l ed hi m i nt o t he di ni ng- roo m.

' I r eckon you' re a bi t of a spor ts ma n,' I sa id, 'a nd I wa nt you to do me a s er vic e. Lend me your ca p a nd

o verall f or t en m in ut es , and h er e' s a s ov er ei gn f or y ou .'

H is e ye s o pe ne d a t t he s ig ht o f t he g ol d, a nd h e g ri nn ed b ro ad ly . ' Wo t' s t he g ym e? 'h e a sk ed .

' A be t,' I sa id. ' I ha ve n't ti me to e xpla in, but t o wi n i t I 've got t o be a m ilkm an f or t he ne xt t en mi nut es. Al l

you' ve got t o do i s t o s ta y he re t il l I c ome b ac k. Y ou' ll be a bi t l at e, but nobod y wi ll c om pl ai n, a nd you' ll

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h av e t hat q ui d f or y ou rs el f. '

' Ri gh t- o! ' h e s ai d c he er il y. ' I a in 't t he m an t o s po il a b it o f s po rt . ' Er e' s t he r ig , g uv 'n or .'

I s tuc k o n hi s f la t b lu e h at a nd h is w hi te o ve ra ll , pi ck ed u p t he c an s, b an ge d m y d oo r, a nd w en t w hi st li ng

dow ns ta ir s. Th e p or te r a t t he f oot t ol d me t o s hu t m y j aw, w hi ch s ou nde d a s i f my ma ke -up w as

adequate.

A t f ir st I t ho ug ht t he re w as n ob od y i n t he s tr ee t. T he n I c au gh t s ig ht o f a p ol ic em an a h un dr ed y ar ds

d ow n, a nd a l oa fe r s hu ff li ng p as t o n t he o th er s id e. S om e i mp ul se m ad e m e r ai se m y e ye s t o t he h ou se

o pp os it e, a nd t he re a t a f ir st -f lo or w in do w w as a f ac e. A s t he l oa fe r pa ss ed h e l oo ke d u p, a nd I f an ci ed

a s ig nal w as exchang ed .

I cro ss ed t he s tr eet, w hi st li ng g ai ly and i mi tati ng t he j au nt y s wi ng o f t he m il km an . T hen I t oo k t he f ir st s id e

s tr ee t, a nd w ent up a l ef t- ha nd t ur ni ng whi ch l ed pa st a bi t of va ca nt gr ound. The re wa s no on e i n t he

l it tl e s tr ee t, s o I d ro pp ed t he m il k- ca ns i ns id e t he h oa rd in g a nd s en t t he c ap a nd o ve ra ll a ft er t he m. I h ad

onl y j us t put on my c lot h c ap whe n a post man c am e r ound t he c orne r. I ga ve him good mor ni ng a nd heans wered m e u ns us pi ci ou sl y. A t t he m om en t t he clo ck o f a n ei gh bo ur in g chu rch s tr uck t he h ou r o f

seven.

There was not a second to spare. As soon as I got to Euston Road I took to my heels and ran. The

c loc k a t Eus ton St at ion s ho we d f iv e mi nut es pa st t he h ou r. A t St P anc ra s I h ad no t im e t o t ak e a t ic ke t,

l et a lon e t ha t I h ad not s et tl ed upon m y de st ina ti on. A por te r t ol d me t he p la tf or m, a nd a s I e nt er ed i t I

s aw t he t ra in a lr ea dy i n m ot io n. T wo s ta ti on o ff ic ia ls b lo ck ed t he w ay , b ut I d od ge d t he m a nd c la mb er ed

i nt o t he l as t car ri ag e.

T hr ee m in ut es l at er , as w e w er e r oari ng t hr ou gh t he n or th er n t un nels , an i rate g uard i nt er vi ew ed m e. H e

w rot e out f or m e a t ic ke t t o Ne wt on- St ewa rt , a na me w hi ch ha d s ud de nl y c om e ba ck t o my m emo ry,a nd h e c on du ct ed m e f ro m t he f ir st -c la ss c om pa rt me nt w he re I h ad e ns co nc ed m ys el f t o a t hi rd -c la ss

s mo ke r, o cc up ie d b y a s ai lo r a nd a s to ut w om an w it h a c hi ld . H e w en t o ff g ru mb li ng , a nd a s I m op pe d

m y br ow I o bs er ve d t o m y c om pa ni ons i n my b ro ade st S cot s t ha t i t wa s a s or e j ob c at ch ing t ra ins . I ha d

al ready ent ered u po n m y p ar t.

' Th e i mp id en ce o ' t ha t g ya ir d! ' s ai d t he l ad y b it te rl y. ' He n ee di t a S co tc h t on gu e t o p it h im i n h is p la ce . H e

w as c om pl ai ni n' o ' t hi s w ea n n o h ae in ' a t ic ke t a nd h er n o f ow er t il l A ug us t t wa lm on th , a nd h e w as

objectin' to this gentleman spittin'.'

T he s ai lo r m or os el y a gr ee d, a nd I s ta rt ed m y n ew l if e i n a n a tm os ph er e o f p ro te st a ga in st a ut ho ri ty . Ir em in de d m ys el f t ha t a w ee k a go I h ad b ee n f in di ng t he w or ld d ul l.

C ha pt er T hr ee . T he A dv en tu re o f t he L it er ar y I nn ke ep er

I h ad a s ol em n t im e t ravell in g n or th t hat d ay . I t w as f in e M ay w eath er , w it h t he h aw th or n f lo weri ng o n

e ve ry he dg e, a nd I a ske d mys el f wh y, whe n I w as s ti ll a f re e ma n, I ha d s ta ye d on i n Lo ndon a nd not g ot

t he g oo d o f t hi s h ea ve nl y c ou nt ry . I d id n' t d ar e f ac e t he r es ta ur an t c ar , b ut I g ot a l un ch eo n- ba sk et a t

L ee ds a nd s ha re d i t w it h t he f at w om an . A ls o I g ot t he m or ni ng 's p ap er s, w it h n ew s a bo ut s ta rt er s f or t he

D er by a nd t he b eg in ni ng o f t he c ri ck et s ea so n, a nd s om e p ar ag ra ph s a bo ut h ow B al ka n a ff ai rs w er e

s et tl in g d ow n and a B ri ti sh s qu ad ro n w as g oi ng t o K iel.

W he n I h ad d on e w it h t he m I g ot o ut S cu dd er 's l it tl e bl ac k po cke t- boo k a nd s tu di ed i t. I t wa s pr et ty w el l

f il led w it h j ot ti ng s, chi ef ly f ig ur es , t ho ug h n ow and t hen a n am e w as p ri nt ed i n. F or examp le, I f ou nd t he

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w or ds ' Ho fg aar d' , ' Lu nevi ll e', and ' Av ocado ' p ret ty o ft en, and es pecial ly t he w or d ' Pavi a'.

Now I was certain that Scudder never did anything without a reason, and I was pretty sure that there

wa s a c yphe r i n a ll t hi s. Tha t i s a s ubj ect whi ch ha s a lwa ys i nt ere st ed m e, a nd I di d a bi t a t it mys el f onc e

a s i nt el li ge nc e o ff ic er a t D el ag oa B ay d ur ing t he B oe r W ar . I h av e a h ea d f or t hi ng s l ik e c he ss a nd

puzzles, and I used to reckon myself pretty good at finding out cyphers. This one looked like the

n um er ical k in d w here s et s o f f ig ur es cor resp on d t o t he l et ters o f t he alp habet, b ut any f ai rl y s hr ew d m anc an f in d t he c lu e t o t ha t s or t a ft er a n h ou r or t wo' s wo rk, a nd I di dn' t t hi nk Sc ud de r w ou ld h ave b ee n

c ont ent wi th a ny thi ng s o e as y. So I f as te ne d o n t he p ri nt ed wo rds , f or y ou c an m ake a pr et ty g oo d

n um er ic al c yp he r i f y ou h av e a k ey w or d w hi ch g iv es y ou t he s eq ue nc e o f t he l et te rs .

I t ri ed f or hou rs , b ut none of t he wor ds a ns we re d. The n I f el l a sl ee p a nd woke a t Du mf ri es j us t i n t im e t o

bundle out and get into the slow Galloway train. There was a man on the platform whose looks I didn't

l ike , bu t h e n ev er g la nc ed a t m e, a nd w he n I c au gh t s ig ht o f m ys el f i n t he m ir ror of a n a ut om at ic m ac hi ne

I d idn' t won de r. Wi th m y b rown f ac e, m y o ld t we eds , a nd m y s louc h, I wa s t he ve ry mo de l o f on e of t he

hill farmers who were crowding into the third-class carriages.

I t ra ve ll ed w it h h al f a d oz en i n a n a tm os ph er e o f s ha g a nd c la y p ip es . T he y h ad c om e f ro m t he w ee kl y

m ar ke t, a nd t he ir m ou th s w er e f ul l o f p ri ce s. I h ea rd a cc ou nt s o f h ow t he l am bi ng h ad g on e u p t he C ai rn

a nd t he D eu ch a nd a d oz en o th er m ys te ri ou s w at er s. A bo ve h al f t he m en h ad l un ch ed h ea vi ly a nd w er e

h ig hl y f lavo ur ed w it h w hi sk y, b ut t hey t oo k n o n ot ice o f m e. W e r um bl ed s lo wl y i nt o a l an d o f l it tl e

w oo ded g lens and t hen t o a g reat w id e m oo rl an d p lace, g leam in g w it h l ochs , w it h h ig h b lu e h il ls s ho wi ng

northwards.

A bo ut f ive o 'c loc k t he c ar ri age h ad e mpt ie d, a nd I w as l ef t a lon e a s I ha d ho pe d. I g ot o ut a t t he ne xt

s ta ti on, a l it tl e pl ac e w hos e n ame I s ca rc el y no te d, s et r igh t i n t he he ar t of a bo g. I t r em in de d me of one

o f t ho se f or go tt en l it tl e s tati on s i n t he K ar ro o. A n o ld s tati on -m as ter w as d ig gi ng i n h is g ar den, and w it h

h is s pa de o ve r h is s ho ul de r s aun te re d t o t he t ra in , t oo k c ha rge o f a p ar ce l, a nd w en t ba ck t o h ispotatoes. A child of ten received my ticket, and I emerged on a white road that straggled over the brown

moor.

I t w as a g or ge ou s s pr in g e ve ni ng , w it h e ve ry h il l s ho wi ng a s c le ar a s a c ut a me thy st . T he a ir h ad t he

que er , r oot y s me ll of b ogs , bu t i t wa s a s f re sh a s mi d- oc ea n, a nd i t h ad t he s tr ange st e ff ec t on m y s pi ri ts .

I a ct ua ll y f el t l ig ht -h ea rt ed. I m ig ht h av e be en a bo y o ut f or a s pr in g h ol id ay t ra mp, i ns te ad o f a m an o f

t hi rt y- se ve n v er y mu ch wa nt ed by th e pol ic e. I f el t j us t a s I us ed t o f ee l whe n I wa s s ta rt ing f or a bi g t re k

o n a f ro st y m or ni ng o n t he h ig h v el d. I f yo u b el ie ve m e, I s wun g a lo ng t ha t r oa d w hi st li ng . Th er e w as n o

plan of campaign in my head, only just to go on and on in this blessed, honest-smelling hill country, for

every m il e p ut m e i n b et ter h um ou r w it h m ys el f.

I n a r oa ds id e p la nt in g I c ut a w al ki ng -s ti ck o f h az el , a nd p re se nt ly s tr uc k o ff t he h ig hw ay u p a b yp at h

w hi ch f ol lo we d t he g le n o f a b ra wl in g s tr ea m. I r ec ko ne d t ha t I w as s ti ll f ar a he ad o f a ny p ur su it , a nd f or

t ha t n ig ht m ig ht p le as e m ys el f. I t w as s om e h ou rs s inc e I h ad t as te d f oo d, a nd I w as g et ti ng v er y hu ng ry

w he n I c am e t o a he rd 's c ot ta ge s et i n a no ok be si de a w at er fa ll . A b row n- fa ce d w om an w as s ta ndi ng by

t he d oo r, a nd g re et ed m e w it h t he k in dl y s hy ne ss o f m oo rl an d p la ce s. W he n I a sk ed f or a n ig ht 's l od gi ng

she said I was welcome t o the 'bed in t he loft', a nd very soon she set before me a heart y me al of ha m and

egg s, s co nes, and t hi ck s weet m il k.

At t he da rke ni ng her ma n c ame in f rom t he hi lls , a l ean gi ant, w ho i n one st ep c ove re d as muc h gr ound a s

t hr ee p ac es o f o rd in ar y m or ta ls . T he y a sk ed m e n o q ue st io ns , f or t he y h ad t he p er fe ct b re ed in g o f a ll

dwel ler s in the wi lds , but I coul d see the y set me down as a kind of deal er, and I took some t roubl e to

c onfi rm t he ir vi ew. I s poke a l ot a bout c att le , of whi ch my hos t kne w l it tl e, a nd I pi cke d up f rom hi m a

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g oo d d ea l a bo ut t he l oc al G al lo wa y m ar ke ts , w hi ch I t uc ke d a wa y i n m y m em or y f or f ut ur e u se . A t t en I

w as n od di ng i n m y c ha ir , a nd t he ' be d i n t he l of t' r ec ei ve d a w ea ry m an w ho n ev er o pe ne d hi s e ye s t il l

f iv e o 'clo ck s et t he l it tl e h om es tead a-g oi ng o nce m or e.

T he y r ef us ed a ny p ay me nt , a nd b y s ix I h ad b re ak fa st ed a nd w as s tr id in g s ou th wa rd s a ga in . M y n ot io n

w as t o r et ur n t o t he r ai lw ay l in e a s ta ti on o r t wo f ar th er o n t ha n t he p la ce w he re I h ad a li gh te d y es te rd ay

a nd t o do ub le ba ck. I r ec kone d t ha t t ha t w as t he s af es t wa y, f or t he p ol ic e w oul d na tu ra ll y a ss um e t ha t Iw as a lw ay s m ak in g f ar th er f ro m L ond on i n t he d ir ec ti on o f s om e w es te rn p or t. I t ho ugh t I h ad s ti ll a g oo d

bit of a start, for, as I reasoned, it would take some hours to fix the blame on me, and several more to

i de nt if y t he f el lo w w ho g ot o n b oa rd t he t ra in a t S t P an cr as .

i t w as t he s am e j ol ly , c le ar s pr in g w ea th er , a nd I s im pl y c ou ld n ot c on tr iv e t o f ee l c ar ew or n. I nd ee d I

wa s i n b et te r s pi ri ts t ha n I ha d be en f or mo nt hs . Ove r a l on g r idge of m oor la nd I t oo k m y r oa d, s ki rti ng

t he s id e o f a h ig h h il l w hi ch t he h er d h ad c al le d C ai rn sm or e o f F le et . N es ti ng c ur le ws a nd p lo ve rs w er e

c ry in g e ve ry wh er e, a nd t he l in ks o f g re en p as tur e b y t he s tr ea ms w er e d ot te d w it h y ou ng l am bs . A ll t he

s la ck ne ss o f t he p as t m on th s w as s li pp in g f ro m m y b on es , a nd I s te pp ed o ut l ik e a f ou r- ye ar -o ld .

By- and- by I c ame t o a s we ll of moor land whi ch di ppe d t o t he va le of a l it tl e r ive r, a nd a mi le a wa y i n t hehe at he r I sa w t he s moke of a tra in.

Th e s ta ti on, w he n I r ea che d i t, p rove d t o be i de al f or my p ur pos e. The m oo r s ur ge d up a ro und i t a nd l ef t

r oo m o nl y f or t he s in gl e l in e, t he s lend er s id in g, a w ai ti ng -r oo m, an o ff ice, t he s tati on - m as ter' s cot tage,

a nd a t in y y ar d o f g oo se be rr ie s a nd s we et -w il li am . T he re s ee me d n o r oa d t o i t f ro m a ny wh er e, a nd t o

i nc re as e t he d es ol at io n t he w av es o f a t ar n l ap pe d o n t he ir g re y g ra ni te b ea ch h al f a m il e a wa y. I w ai te d

i n t he d ee p h ea th er t il l I s aw t he s mo ke o f a n e as t- go in g t ra in o n t he h or iz on . T he n I a pp ro ac he d t he t in y

booking-office and took a ticket for Dumfries.

T he on ly o cc upa nt s o f t he c ar ri ag e we re a n ol d s he phe rd a nd h is do g - a w al l- eye d br ut e t ha t I

m is t ru st ed . T he m an w as asl eep, and o n t he cus hi on s b es id e h im w as t hat m or ni ng 's S CO TS MA N.E ag er ly I s ei ze d o n i t, f or I f an ci ed i t w oul d t el l m e s om et hi ng .

T he re w er e t wo c ol um ns a bo ut t he P or tl an d P la ce M ur de r, a s i t w as c al le d. M y m an P ad do ck h ad g iv en

t he a la rm a nd h ad t he m il km an a rr es te d. P oo r d ev il , i t l oo ke d a s i f t he l at te r h ad e ar ne d h is s ov er ei gn

ha rdl y; b ut f or me h e ha d be en c he ap a t t he pr ic e, f or h e s ee me d t o ha ve oc cup ie d t he p ol ic e f or t he

better part of the day. In the latest news I found a further instalment of the story. The milkman had been

r el ea se d, I r ea d, a nd t he t ru e c ri mi na l, a bo ut w ho se i de nt it y t he p ol ic e w er e r et ic en t, w as b el ie ve d t o

ha ve g ot a wa y f rom Lo ndo n b y o ne of t he nor the rn l in es . Th er e wa s a s ho rt n ot e a bo ut m e a s t he ow ne r

of t he f la t. I gu es se d t he p ol ic e ha d s tu ck t ha t i n, a s a c lu ms y c ont ri va nc e t o pe rs ua de me t ha t I wa s

unsuspected.

T here w as n ot hi ng els e i n t he p ap er , n ot hi ng abo ut f or ei gn p ol it ics o r K ar ol id es , o r t he t hi ng s t hat h ad

i nt er es te d S cu dd er . I l ai d i t d ow n, a nd f ou nd t ha t w e w er e a pp ro ac hi ng t he s ta ti on a t w hi ch I h ad g ot o ut

yesterday. The potato-digging station-master had been gingered up into some activity, for the west-going

t ra in w as w ai ti ng t o l et u s p as s, a nd f ro m i t h ad d es ce nd ed t hr ee m en w ho w er e a sk in g h im q ue st io ns . I

s up po se d t ha t t he y w er e t he l oc al po li ce , w ho ha d be en s ti rr ed u p by S co tl an d Y ar d, a nd ha d t ra ce d m e

a s f ar a s t hi s o ne -h or se s id in g. S it ti ng w el l b ac k i n t he s ha do w I w at ch ed t he m c ar ef ul ly . O ne o f t he m h ad

a b oo k, a nd t oo k d ow n n ot es . T he o ld p ot at o- di gg er s ee me d t o h av e t ur ne d p ee vi sh , b ut t he c hi ld w ho

h ad c ol le ct ed m y t ic ke t w as t al ki ng v ol ub ly . A ll t he p ar ty l oo ke d o ut a cr os s t he m oo r w he re t he w hi te

r oa d d ep ar te d. I h op ed t he y w er e g oi ng t o t ak e u p m y t ra ck s t he re .

A s w e m ov ed a wa y f rom t ha t s ta ti on m y c om pa ni on w ok e u p. H e f ix ed m e w it h a w an de ri ng g la nc e,

k ic ke d h is d og v ic io us ly , a nd i nq ui re d w he re h e w as . C le ar ly h e w as v er y d ru nk . ' Th at 's w ha t c om es o '

P a g e 1 3


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bein' a teetotaller,' he observed in bitter regret.

I e xp re ss ed m y s ur pr is e t ha t i n h im I s ho ul d h av e m et a b lu e- r ib bo n s ta lw ar t.

' Ay , b ut I 'm a s tr on g t ee to ta ll er ,' h e s ai d p ug na ci ou sl y. ' I t oo k t he p le dg e l as t M ar ti nm as , a nd I h av en a

t ou ch ed a d ro p o ' w hi sk y s in sy ne . N ot e ve n a t H og ma na y, t ho ug h I w as s ai r t em pt it .'

H e s wu ng h is h ee ls u p o n t he s ea t, a nd b ur ro we d a f ro ws y h ea d i nt o t he c us hi on s.

' An d t ha t' s a ' I g et ,' h e m oa ne d. ' A h ei d h et te r t ha n h el l f ir e, a nd t wa e e en l oo ki n' d if fe re nt w ay s f or t he

Sabbath.'

' Wha t di d i t? ' I a ske d.

' A dr ink t he y c a' b ra ndy . Be in' a t ee tot al le r I ke epi t of f t he w hi sky , but I wa s ni p- ni pp in' a ' da y a t t hi s

brandy, and I doubt I'll no be weel for a fortnicht.' His voice died away into a splutter, and sleep once

m or e l ai d i ts h ea vy h an d on hi m.

M y pl an h ad b ee n t o ge t out a t s ome s ta ti on do wn t he l ine , but t he t ra in s udde nl y g ave m e a be tt er

c ha nc e, f or i t c am e t o a s ta nd st il l a t t he e nd o f a c ul ve rt w hi ch s pa nn ed a b ra wl in g p or te r- co lo ur ed r iv er .

I l oo ke d o ut a nd s aw t ha t e ve ry c ar ri ag e w in do w w as c lo se d a nd n o h um an f ig ur e a pp ea re d i n t he

l an ds ca pe . S o I o pe ne d t he d oo r, a nd d ro pp ed q ui ck ly i nt o t he t an gl e o f h az el s w hi ch e dg ed t he l in e.

i t w ou ld h ave be en a ll r ig ht bu t f or t ha t i nf er na l do g. U nd er t he i mp re ss ion t ha t I w as de ca mp in g wi th i ts

m as te r' s b el ongi ngs , i t s ta rt ed t o ba rk, a nd a ll but g ot m e b y t he t rou se rs . T hi s w ok e u p t he he rd , w ho

s to od b aw li ng a t t he c ar ri ag e d oo r i n t he b el ie f t ha t I h ad c om mi tt ed s ui ci de . I c ra wl ed t hr ou gh t he

t hi ck et , r ea che d t he e dge o f t he s tr ea m, a nd i n c ov er o f t he bu she s pu t a h un dr ed ya rd s or s o be hi nd m e.

T he n f ro m m y s he lt er I p ee re d b ac k, a nd s aw t he g ua rd a nd s ev er al p as se ng er s g at he re d r ou nd t he o pe nc ar ri ag e d oo r a nd s ta ri ng i n m y d ir ec ti on . I c ou ld n ot h av e m ad e a m or e p ub li c d ep ar tu re i f I h ad l ef t w it h

a bugl er a nd a br as s ba nd.

H ap pi ly t he d ru nk en h er d p ro vi de d a d iv er si on . H e a nd h is d og , w hi ch w as a tt ac he d b y a r op e t o h is

w ai st , s ud de nl y c as ca de d o ut o f t he c ar ri ag e, l an de d o n t he ir h ea ds o n t he t ra ck , a nd r ol le d s om e w ay

d ow n t he b an k t ow ar ds t he w at er . I n t he r es cu e w hi ch f ol lo we d t he d og b it s om eb od y, f or I c ou ld h ea r

t he s ou nd o f h ar d s we ar in g. P re se nt ly t he y h ad f or go tt en m e, a nd w he n a ft er a q ua rt er o f a m il e' s c ra wl I

v en tu re d t o l oo k b ac k, t he t ra in h ad s ta rt ed a ga in a nd w as v an is hi ng i n t he c ut ti ng .

I w as i n a wi de s em ic ir cl e of mo or la nd , w it h t he b ro wn r ive r a s r ad iu s, a nd t he h ig h h il ls f or mi ng t hen or th er n c ir cu mf er en ce . T he re w as n ot a s ig n o r s ou nd o f a h um an b ei ng , o nl y t he pl as hi ng w at er a nd t he

i nt er mi na bl e c ry in g o f c ur le ws . Y et , o ddl y e no ug h, f or t he f ir st t im e I f el t t he t er ro r of t he h un te d o n m e. I t

w as no t t he p ol ic e t ha t I t ho ug ht of , b ut t he o th er f ol k, w ho kn ew t ha t I k ne w S cud de r' s s ec re t a nd d ar ed

n ot l et m e l ive . I w as c er ta in t ha t t he y w ou ld p ur su e m e w it h a k ee nn es s a nd v ig il an ce un kn ow n t o t he

B ri ti sh l aw , a nd t ha t o nc e t he ir gr ip c lo se d o n m e I s ho ul d f in d n o m er cy .

I l oo ke d b ac k, b ut t he re w as n ot hi ng i n t he l an ds ca pe . T he s un g li nt ed o n t he m et al s o f t he l in e a nd t he

w et s to ne s i n t he s tr ea m, a nd y ou c ou ld n ot h av e f ou nd a m or e p ea ce fu l s ig ht i n t he w or ld . N ev er th el es s I

s ta rt ed t o r un . C ro uc hi ng l ow i n t he r un ne ls o f t he b og , I r an t il l t he s we at b li nd ed m y e ye s. T he m oo d d id

no t l ea ve m e t il l I h ad r ea ch ed t he r im of m ou nt ai n a nd f lu ng m ys el f p ant ing o n a r id ge h igh a bo ve t he

y ou ng w at er s o f t he b ro wn r iv er .

F ro m m y v an ta ge -g ro un d I c oul d s ca n t he w ho le m oo r r ig ht a wa y t o t he r ai lw ay l in e a nd t o t he s out h o f i t

P a g e 1 4


15/62

w he re g re en f ie ld s t oo k t he p la ce o f h ea th er . I h av e e ye s l ik e a h aw k, b ut I c ou ld s ee n ot hi ng m ov in g i n

t he w ho le c ou nt ry si de . T he n I l oo ke d e as t b ey on d t he r id ge a nd s aw a n ew k in d o f l an ds ca pe - s ha ll ow

g reen v al leys w it h p lent if ul f ir p lant at io ns and t he f ai nt l in es o f d us t w hi ch s po ke o f h ig hr oads . L as t o f all I

l oo ke d i nt o t he b lue Ma y s ky, a nd t he re I s aw t ha t wh ic h s et my pu ls es r ac in g . ..

Low down i n the s out h a mo nopla ne wa s c li mbi ng i nt o t he he ave ns . I w as a s c er tai n a s i f I ha d be en to ld

t ha t t ha t a er op la ne w as l oo ki ng f or m e, a nd t ha t i t d id no t b el on g t o t he p ol ic e. F or a n ho ur or t wo Iw at ch ed i t f ro m a p it of h ea th er . I t f le w l ow a lo ng t he h il l- to ps , a nd t he n i n n ar ro w c ir cl es o ve r t he va ll ey

up wh ic h I ha d c ome ' Th en i t s ee me d t o c ha ng e i ts m ind, r os e t o a gr ea t he ig ht , a nd f le w a wa y ba ck t o

the south.

I di d not l ike t hi s e spi ona ge f rom t he a ir , a nd I be ga n t o t hi nk l es s we ll of the co untr ys ide I ha d c hos en

f or a re fuge . The se he at he r hi ll s we re no s or t of cove r i f my e ne mie s we re i n t he sky, and I m us t f ind a

d if ferent k in d o f s an ct uary . I l oo ked w it h m or e s at is fact io n t o t he g reen cou nt ry b ey on d t he r id ge, f or

t he re I s houl d f ind wood s a nd s to ne hous es . A bout s ix i n t he e ve ni ng I c ame ou t of t he moor la nd t o a

w hi te r ib bo n o f r oa d w hi ch w oun d up t he n ar ro w v al e of a l ow la nd s tr ea m. A s I f ol lo we d i t, f ie ld s g av e

place to bent, the glen became a plateau, and presently I had reached a kind of pass where a solitaryh ou se s mo ke d i n t he t wi li gh t. T he r oa d s wu ng o ve r a b ri dg e, a nd l ea ni ng o n t he p ar ap et w as a y ou ng

man.

H e w as s mo ki ng a l on g c la y p ip e a nd s tu dy in g t he w at er w it h s pe ct ac le d e ye s. I n h is l ef t h an d w as a

s ma ll b oo k w it h a f in ge r m ar ki ng t he p la ce . S lo wl y h e r ep ea te d -

A s w he n a G ry ph on t hr ou gh t he w il de rn es s W it h w in ge d s te p, o 'e r hi ll a nd m oo ry d al e P ur su es t he

Arimaspian.

H e j um pe d r ound a s m y s te p r ung o n t he ke ys tone , a nd I s aw a pl ea sa nt s unb ur nt b oyi sh f ac e.

' Go od e ve ni ng t o y ou ,' h e s ai d g ra ve ly . ' It 's a f in e n ig ht f or t he r oa d. '

Th e s me ll o f pe at s moke a nd of s om e s av our y r oa st f loa te d t o me f rom t he ho us e.

' Is t hat pl ac e a n inn? ' I a sked.

' At y ou r s er vi ce ,' h e s ai d p ol it el y. ' I a m t he l an dl or d, S ir , a nd I h op e y ou w il l s ta y t he n ig ht , f or t o t el l y ou

t he t rut h I h ave ha d no c om pa ny f or a we ek .'

I pul le d m ys el f up on th e pa ra pe t of t he br idge a nd f il le d my pip e. I be ga n t o de te ct a n a ll y.

' Yo u' re y ou ng t o b e a n i nn ke ep er ,' I s ai d.

' My f at he r d ie d a ye ar a go a nd l ef t me t he bus ine ss . I l ive t he re wi th m y gr an dmot he r. I t' s a s low j ob f or

a y ou ng m an , a nd i t w as n' t m y c ho ic e o f p ro fe ss io n. '

'Which was?'

H e a ct ua ll y b lu sh ed . ' I w an t t o w ri te b oo ks ,' h e s ai d.

' An d w ha t b et te r c ha nc e c ou ld y ou a sk ?' I c ri ed . ' Ma n, I 'v e o ft en t ho ug ht t ha t a n i nn ke ep er w ou ld m ak e

t he b es t s t or y- tell er i n t he w or ld .'

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' No t n ow ,' h e s ai d e ag er ly . ' Ma yb e i n t he o ld d ay s w he n y ou h ad p il gr im s a nd b al la d- ma ke rs a nd

h ig hw ay men and m ai l- co aches o n t he r oad. B ut n ot n ow . N ot hi ng com es h er e b ut m ot or -car s f ul l o f f at

w om en, w ho s top f or l un ch , a nd a f is he rm an o r t wo i n t he s pr in g, a nd t he s ho ot in g t en an ts i n A ug us t.

The re i s not muc h m at er ia l t o be got out of th at . I wa nt to s ee l if e, t o t ra ve l t he w orl d, a nd w ri te t hi ngs

l ik e K ip li ng a nd C on ra d. B ut t he m os t I 'v e d on e y et i s t o g et s om e v er se s p ri nt ed i n C HA MB ER S' S

J OU RN AL .' I l oo ked at t he i nn s tand in g g ol den i n t he s un set again st t he b ro wn h il ls .

' I' ve k no ck ed a b it a bo ut t he w or ld , a nd I w ou ld n' t d es pi se s uc h a h er mi ta ge . D 'y ou t hi nk t ha t a dv en tu re

i s f ou nd on ly i n t he t rop ic s o r a mo ng g en tr y i n r ed s hi rt s? M ay be y ou' re r ub bi ng s ho ul de rs w it h i t a t t hi s

moment.'

' Th at 's w hat K ip li ng s ay s, ' h e s ai d, h is eyes b ri gh teni ng , and h e q uo ted s om e v er se abo ut ' Ro mance

bringing up the 9.15'.

'Here 's a true tale f or you the n,' I c ried, 'a nd a month from now you can make a novel out of it.'

S it ti ng o n t he b ri dg e i n t he s of t M ay g lo ami ng I pi tc he d h im a l ove ly y ar n. I t w as t ru e i n e ss en ti al s, t oo,t ho ug h I a lt er ed t he m in or d et ai ls . I m ad e ou t t ha t I w as a m in in g m ag na te f ro m K im be rl ey , w ho h ad h ad

a l ot of t rou bl e w it h I .D .B . a nd h ad s ho wn u p a g ang . T he y ha d pu rs ue d m e a cr os s t he oc ea n, a nd h ad

k il le d m y b es t f ri en d, a nd w er e n ow o n m y t ra ck s.

I t ol d t he s to ry w el l, t ho ug h I s ay i t w ho s ho ul dn 't . I p ic tu re d a f li gh t a cr os s t he K al ah ar i t o G er ma n

A fr ica, t he crack li ng , p ar ch in g d ay s, t he w on derf ul b lu e- velv et n ig ht s. I d es cr ib ed an att ack o n m y l if e o n

t he v oy ag e h om e, a nd I m ad e a r ea ll y h or ri d a ff ai r o f t he P or tl an d P la ce m ur de r. ' Yo u' re l oo ki ng f or

a dv en tu re ,' I c ri ed ; ' we ll , y ou 'v e f ou nd i t h er e. T he d ev il s a re a ft er m e, a nd t he p ol ic e a re a ft er t he m. I t' s a

ra ce t ha t I mea n to wi n.'

' By G od !' h e w hi sp er ed , d ra wi ng h is b re at h i n s ha rp ly , ' it i s a ll p ur e R id er H ag ga rd a nd C on an D oy le .'

' Yo u b el ieve m e, ' I s ai d g ratefu ll y.

' Of c ou rs e I d o, ' a nd h e h el d o ut h is h an d. ' I b el ie ve e ve ry th in g o ut o f t he c om mo n. T he o nl y t hi ng t o

distrust is the normal.'

He wa s ve ry young, but he wa s t he ma n f or my mone y.

' I t hi nk t he y' re of f m y t ra ck f or th e m ome nt , but I m us t l ie c los e f or a c ou pl e of da ys . Ca n you t ake m e

in?'

He c aught my e lb ow i n hi s e ag er ne ss a nd dr ew me t owa rds th e hous e. ' You c an l ie a s s nug he re a s if you

w er e i n a m os s- ho le . I 'l l s ee t ha t n ob od y b la bs , e it he r. A nd y ou 'l l g iv e m e s om e m or e m at er ia l a bo ut y ou r

adventures?'

A s I e nt er ed t he i nn p or ch I h ea rd f ro m f ar o ff t he b ea t o f a n e ng in e. T he re s il ho ue tt ed a ga in st t he d us ky

W es t w as m y f ri en d, t he m on op lane.

He gave me a room at the back of t he house, with a f ine outlook ove r t he pla teau, and he ma de me free

o f h is o wn s tu dy , w hi ch w as s ta ck ed w it h c he ap e di ti on s o f h is f av ou ri te a ut ho rs . I n ev er s aw t he

g ra nd mo th er , s o I g ue ss ed s he w as b ed ri dd en . A n o ld w om an c al le d M ar gi t b ro ug ht m e m y m ea ls , a nd

t he i nn ke epe r wa s a round me a t a ll hour s. I w ant ed s om e t ime t o m ys el f, s o I i nve nt ed a j ob f or hi m. H e

h ad a m ot or -b icycle, and I s en t h im o ff n ex t m or ni ng f or t he d ai ly p ap er , w hi ch u su al ly arr iv ed w it h t he

P a g e 1 6


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post in the late afternoon. I told him to keep his eyes skinned, and make note of any strange figures he

s aw , k ee pi ng a s pe ci al s ha rp l oo k- ou t f or m ot or s a nd a er op la ne s. T he n I s at d ow n i n r ea l e ar ne st t o

Scudder's note-book.

H e c am e b ac k a t m id da y w it h t he S CO TS MA N. T he re w as n ot hi ng i n i t, e xc ep t s om e f ur th er e vi de nc e

o f P ad do ck a nd t he m il km an , a nd a r ep et it io n o f y es te rd ay 's s ta te me nt t ha t t he m ur de re r h ad g on e

North. But there was a long article, reprinted from THE TIMES, about Karolides and the state of affairsi n t he Ba lk an s, t ho ug h t he re w as n o m ent ion o f a ny v is it t o E ng la nd . I g ot r id o f t he i nn ke ep er f or t he

a ft er no on , f or I w as g et ti ng v er y w ar m i n m y s ea rc h f or t he c yp he r.

A s I t ol d y ou , i t w as a n um er ic al c yp he r, a nd b y a n e la bo ra te s ys te m o f e xp er im en ts I h ad p re tt y w el l

di sc ove re d w ha t w er e t he nu ll s a nd s top s. T he t roub le w as t he ke y w or d, a nd w he n I t ho ugh t of t he odd

m il li on w or ds h e m ig ht h av e u se d I f el t p re tt y h op el es s. B ut a bo ut t hr ee o 'c lo ck I h ad a s ud de n

inspiration.

T he n am e J ul ia C ze ch en yi f la sh ed a cr os s m y m em or y. S cu dd er h ad s ai d i t w as t he k ey t o t he K ar ol id es

business, and it occurred to me to try it on his cypher.

I t w or ke d. The f ive l et te rs o f ' Jul ia ' ga ve m e t he pos it ion of t he vowe ls . A wa s J , t he t ent h l et te r of th e

a lph ab et , a nd s o r epr es en te d b y X i n t he c yph er . E w as XX I, a nd s o on . ' Cz ec he nyi ' g av e m e t he

n um er al s f or t he p ri nc ip al c on so na nt s. I s cr ib bl ed t ha t s ch em e o n a b it o f p ap er a nd s at d ow n t o r ea d

S cud d er ' s p ages .

I n h al f a n h our I w as r ea di ng w it h a w hi ti sh f ac e a nd f ing er s t ha t dr um me d o n t he t ab le .

I gl anc ed out of t he wi ndow a nd s aw a bi g t our ing -c ar c omi ng up t he gl en t owa rds th e i nn. I t dr ew up a t

t he doo r, a nd t he re wa s t he s oun d o f pe opl e a li ght in g. The re s ee me d t o be t wo of t he m, me n i n

aqu ascut um s an d t w eed caps .

T en m in ut es l at er t he i nn keep er s li pp ed i nt o t he r oo m, h is eyes b ri gh t w it h excit em en t.

' Th er e' s t wo chaps b el ow l oo ki ng f or y ou ,' h e w hi sp er ed . ' Th ey 'r e i n t he d in in g- ro om h av in g

w hi sk ie s- an d- so da s. T he y a sk ed a bo ut y ou a nd s ai d t he y h ad h op ed t o m ee t y ou h er e. O h! a nd t he y

de sc ri be d yo u j ol ly we ll , do wn t o yo ur bo ot s a nd s hi rt . I t ol d t he m you h ad b ee n h er e l as t ni ght a nd ha d

g on e o ff o n a m ot or b ic yc le t hi s m or ni ng , a nd o ne o f t he c ha ps s wo re l ik e a n av vy .'

I m ad e h im t el l m e w ha t t he y l oo ke d l ik e. O ne w as a d ar k- ey ed t hi n f el lo w w it h b us hy e ye br ow s, t he

o th er w as alw ay s s mi li ng and l is ped i n h is t al k. N ei th er w as any k in d o f f or ei gn er ; o n t hi s m y y ou ng f ri en dwas positive.

I took a bit of paper and wrote these words in German as if they were part of a letter -

... ' Bl ac k Stone . Scudder ha d got on t o this , but he c ould not ac t for a f or tni ght. I doubt i f I c an do a ny

good now, e spe ci al ly a s K aro lid es i s un ce rt ain a bout hi s pl ans . Bu t i f M r T. a dvi se s I wi ll d o t he be st I

...'

I m an uf ac tu re d i t r at he r n ea tl y, s o t ha t i t l oo ke d l ik e a l oo se p ag e o f a p ri va te l et te r.

' Ta ke t hi s dow n a nd s ay i t w as f ound i n m y b edr oom , a nd a sk t he m t o r et ur n i t t o m e i f t he y o ve rt ake

m e. ' T hr ee m in ut es l at er I h ea rd t he c ar b eg in t o m ov e, a nd p ee pi ng f ro m b ehi nd t he c ur ta in c aug ht s ig ht

of t he t wo f igur es . O ne w as s li m, t he o the r w as s le ek; t ha t wa s t he m os t I c oul d ma ke of m y

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reconnaissance.

T he i nn ke ep er a pp ea re d i n g re at e xc it em en t. ' Yo ur p ap er w ok e t he m u p, ' h e s ai d g le ef ul ly . ' Th e d ar k

f el lo w w en t a s w hi te a s d ea th a nd c ur se d l ik e b la ze s, a nd t he f at o ne w hi st le d a nd l oo ke d u gl y. T he y p ai d

for their drinks with half-a-sovereign and wouldn't wait for change.'

' No w I 'l l t el l y ou w ha t I w an t y ou t o d o, ' I s ai d. ' Ge t o n y ou r b ic yc le a nd go of f t o Ne wt on- St ew ar t t ot he C hi ef C on st ab le . D es cr ib e t he t wo m en , a nd s ay y ou s us pe ct t he m o f h av in g h ad s om et hi ng t o d o

w it h t he L on do n m ur de r. Y ou c an i nv en t r ea so ns . T he t wo w il l c om e b ac k, n ev er f ea r. N ot t on ig ht , f or

t hey' ll f ol lo w m e f or ty m il es alo ng t he r oad, b ut f ir st t hi ng t om or ro w m or ni ng . T el l t he p ol ice t o b e h er e

bright and early.'

H e s et of f l ik e a do ci le c hi ld, wh il e I wo rk ed a t Sc ud de r' s n ot es . W he n h e c ame ba ck w e di ne d t oge the r,

a nd i n c ommon dec enc y I had t o l et him pump me . I ga ve him a lot of st uff about li on hunt s and the

M at ab el e W ar , t hi nk in g a ll t he w hi le w ha t t am e b us in es se s t he se w er e c om pa re d t o t hi s I w as n ow

e nga ge d i n! W he n he w ent t o be d I s at u p a nd f ini she d Sc udde r. I s moke d i n a c ha ir t ill da yli ght , f or I

cou ld n ot s l eep.

A bo ut e ig ht n ex t m or ni ng I w it ne ss ed t he a rr iv al o f t wo c on st ab le s a nd a s er ge an t. T he y pu t t he ir c ar i n a

coach -h ou se u nd er t he i nn keep er 's i ns tr ucti on s, and ent er ed t he h ou se. T went y m in ut es l at er I s aw f ro m

m y w ind ow a s ec ond c ar c om e a cr os s t he pl at ea u f rom t he opp os it e di re ct ion . I t di d no t c om e u p t o t he

i nn, b ut s to ppe d t wo hun dr ed ya rds of f i n t he s he lt er of a pa tc h of w oo d. I no ti ce d t ha t i ts oc cup ant s

c ar ef ul ly r ev er se d i t b ef or e l ea vi ng i t. A m in ut e o r t wo l at er I h ea rd t he ir s te ps o n t he gr av el o ut si de t he

window.

M y pl an ha d be en t o l ie hi d i n my be dr oo m, a nd s ee wha t ha ppe ne d. I ha d a not ion t ha t, i f I c oul d br ing

t he p ol ic e a nd m y o th er m or e d an ge ro us p ur su er s t og et he r, s om et hi ng m ig ht w or k o ut of i t t o m y

a dva nt age . B ut n ow I ha d a be tt er i de a. I s cr ib bl ed a l ine o f t ha nk s t o my hos t, op ene d t he w ind ow , a ndd ro pp ed q ui et ly i nt o a g oo se be rr y b us h. U no bs er ve d I c ro ss ed t he d yk e, c ra wl ed d ow n t he s id e o f a

t ri but ar y b ur n, a nd wo n t he h igh ro ad on t he f ar s ide o f t he p at ch o f t re es . T he re s to od t he c ar , ve ry s pi ck

a nd s pa n i n t he m or ni ng s unl ig ht , bu t w it h t he d us t o n h er w hi ch t ol d o f a l ong j ou rn ey . I s ta rt ed h er ,

jumped into the chauffeur's seat, and stole gently out on to the plateau.

Al mos t a t on ce t he r oa d di ppe d s o t ha t I l os t s ight o f t he i nn, bu t t he wi nd s ee me d t o br ing me t he s ound

of angry voices.

C ha pt er F ou r. T he A dv en tu re o f t he R ad ica l C an did at e

Yo u ma y pi ct ur e me dr iv ing t ha t 40 h. p. c ar f or a ll s he wa s w or th ov er t he c ri sp mo or r oa ds on t ha t

shining May morning; glancing back at first over my shoulder, and looking anxiously to the next turning;

t he n d ri vi ng w it h a v ag ue e ye , j us t w id e e no ug h a wa ke t o k ee p on t he h ig hw ay . F or I w as t hi nk in g

d es pe ra te ly o f w ha t I h ad f ou nd i n S cu dd er 's p oc ke t- bo ok .

T he l it tl e m an h ad t ol d m e a p ac k o f l ie s. A ll h is y ar ns a bo ut t he B al ka ns a nd t he J ew -A na rc hi st s a nd t he

F or ei gn O ff ic e C on fe re nc e w er e e ye wa sh , a nd s o w as K ar ol id es . A nd y et n ot q ui te , a s y ou s ha ll h ea r. I

h ad s ta ke d e ve ry th in g o n m y b el ie f i n h is s to ry , a nd h ad b ee n l et d ow n; h er e w as h is b oo k t el li ng m e a

different tale, and instead of being once-bitten-twice-shy, I believed it absolutely.

W hy, I d on' t k now . I t r an g d es pe ra te ly t rue , a nd t he f ir st ya rn, i f yo u und er st and me , ha d b ee n i n a qu ee r

w ay t ru e a ls o i n s pi ri t. T he f if te en th da y o f J un e w as g oi ng t o b e a d ay o f d es ti ny , a b ig ge r d es ti ny t ha n

t he ki ll ing of a D ago. I t wa s s o bi g th at I di dn' t bl ame S cudde r f or ke epi ng m e out of t he ga me a nd

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19/62

w an ti ng t o pl ay a l on e h an d. T ha t, I w as p re tt y c le ar , w as h is i nt ent io n. H e h ad t ol d m e s om et hi ng w hi ch

s ou nde d b ig e no ugh , b ut t he r ea l t hi ng w as s o i mm or ta ll y bi g t ha t h e, t he m an w ho h ad f ou nd i t o ut ,

w ant ed i t a ll f or h im se lf . I d id n' t b la me h im . I t w as r is ks a ft er a ll t ha t h e w as c hi ef ly g re ed y a bo ut .

T he w ho le s to ry w as i n t he n ot es - w it h g aps , y ou u nd er st and , w hi ch h e w ou ld h av e f il le d u p f ro m h is

m em or y. H e s tu ck do wn h is a ut ho ri ti es , t oo , a nd h ad a n o dd t ri ck of g iv in g t he m a ll a n um er ic al v al ue

a nd t he n s tr ik in g a b al an ce , w hi ch s too d f or t he r el ia bi li ty o f e ac h s ta ge i n t he y ar n. T he f ou r na me s h eh ad p ri nt ed w er e a ut ho ri ti es , a nd t he re w as a m an , D uc ro sn e, w ho g ot f iv e o ut o f a p os si bl e f iv e; a nd

a not he r f el lo w, A mme rs fo or t, w ho g ot t hr ee . T he ba re bon es of t he t al e w er e a ll t ha t wa s i n t he bo ok -

t hes e, and o ne q ueer p hr as e w hi ch o ccur red h al f a d ozen t im es i ns i de b rack et s. ' ( Th ir ty -n in e s teps )' w as

t he p hr as e; a nd a t i ts l as t t im e of us e i t r an - ' (T hi rt y- ni ne s te ps , I c ou nt ed t he m - h igh t ide 10 .17 p. m.) '. I

cou ld m ak e n ot hi ng o f t hat.

The f ir st t hing I l ear ne d wa s t ha t i t wa s no que st ion of pr eve nt ing a wa r. Tha t wa s c omi ng, a s s ure a s

C hr is tm as : h ad b ee n a rr an ge d, s ai d S cu dd er , e ve r s in ce F eb ru ar y 1 91 2. K ar ol id es w as g oi ng t o b e t he

oc ca si on . H e w as b oo ke d a ll r igh t, a nd wa s t o ha nd i n hi s c he cks o n J un e 14 th , t wo we ek s a nd f our

d ay s f ro m t hat M ay m or ni ng . I g at hered f ro m S cu dd er 's n ot es t hat n ot hi ng o n ear th cou ld p revent t hat.H is t al k o f E pi ro te g uard s t hat w ou ld s ki n t heir o wn g rand mo th er s w as all b il ly -o .

T he s ec on d t hi ng w as t ha t t hi s w ar w as g oi ng t o c om e a s a m ig ht y s ur pr is e t o B ri ta in . K ar ol id es ' d ea th

w ou ld s et t he B al kans b y t he ear s, and t hen V ienn a w ou ld chi p i n w it h an u lt im at um . R us si a w ou ld n' t l ik e

t ha t, a nd t he re w ou ld b e h ig h w or ds . B ut B er li n w ou ld p la y t he p ea ce ma ke r, a nd p ou r o il o n t he w at er s,

t il l s udde nl y she woul d fi nd a good c ause f or a qua rre l, pi ck i t up, a nd in f ive hour s le t f ly a t us. That wa s

t he i de a, a nd a p re tt y g ood o ne t oo . Ho ne y a nd f ai r s pe ec he s, a nd t he n a s tr ok e i n t he d ar k. W hi le we

w er e t al ki ng abo ut t he g oo dw il l and g oo d i nt en ti on s o f G er many o ur coast w ou ld b e s il en tl y r in ged w it h

mines, and submarines would be waiting for every battleship.

B ut a ll t hi s d ep en de d u po n t he t hi rd t hi ng , w hi ch w as d ue t o h ap pe n o n J un e 1 5t h. I w ou ld n ev er h av eg ra sp ed t hi s i f I h ad n' t o nc e h ap pe ne d t o m ee t a F re nc h s ta ff o ff ic er , c om in g b ac k f ro m W es t A fr ic a,

who ha d t ol d me a l ot of t hi ngs . One wa s t ha t

buchan john the 39 steps

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