"THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS" - читать интересную книгу автора (Buchan John)

and chattering, and I envied the people for having
something to do. These shop-girls and clerks and
dandies and policemen had some interest in life that
kept them going. I gave half a crown to a beggar
because I saw him yawn; he was a fellow-sufferer. At
Oxford Circus I looked up into the spring sky and I
made a vow. I would give the Old Country another day
to fit me into something; if nothing happened, I would
take the next boat for the Cape.

My flat was the first floor in a new block behind
Langham Place. There was a common staircase, with a
porter and a lift man at the entrance, but there was no
restaurant or anything of that sort, and each flat was
quite shut off from the others. I hate servants on the
premises, so I had a fellow to look after me who came
in by the day. He arrived before eight o'clock every
morning and used to depart at seven, for I never dined
at home.

I was just fitting my key into the door when I noticed a
man at my elbow. I had not seen him approach, and
the sudden appearance made me start. He was a slim
man, with a short brown beard and small, gimlety blue
eyes. I recognized him as the occupant of a flat on the
top floor, with whom I had passed the time of day on
the stairs.

"Can I speak to you?" he said. "May I come in for a
minute?" He was steadying his voice with an effort, and
his hand was pawing my arm.

I got my door open and motioned him in. No sooner
was he over the threshold than he made a dash for my
back room, where I used to smoke and write my
letters. Then he bolted back.

"Is the door locked?" he asked feverishly, and he
fastened the chain with his own hand.

"I am very sorry," he said humbly. "It's a mighty liberty,
but you look the kind of man who would understand.
I've had you in my mind all this week when things got
troublesome. Say, will you do me a good turn?"

"I'll listen to you," I said. "That's all I'll promise." I was
getting worried by the antics of this nervous little chap.

There was a tray of drinks on the table beside him,
from which he filled himself a stiff whisky-and-soda. He