"Arthur C. Doyle - The Poison Belt" - читать интересную книгу автора (Clarke Arthur C)

"Someone else," I suggested lamely.

"Not 'e. No one would stay a week. If I was to go, that 'ouse
would run down like a watch with the mainspring out. I'm telling
you because you're 'is friend, and you ought to know. If I was
to take 'im at 'is word--but there, I wouldn't have the 'eart.
'E and the missus would be like two babes left out in a bundle.
I'm just everything. And then 'e goes and gives me notice."

"Why would no one stay?" I asked.

"Well, they wouldn't make allowances, same as I do. 'E's a very
clever man, the master--so clever that 'e's clean balmy
sometimes. I've seen 'im right off 'is onion, and no error.
Well, look what 'e did this morning."

"What did he do?"

Austin bent over to me.

"'E bit the 'ousekeeper," said he in a hoarse whisper.

"Bit her?"

"Yes, sir. Bit 'er on the leg. I saw 'er with my own eyes
startin' a marathon from the 'all-door."

"Good gracious!"
"So you'd say, sir, if you could see some of the goings on. 'E
don't make friends with the neighbors. There's some of them
thinks that when 'e was up among those monsters you wrote about,
it was just `'Ome, Sweet 'Ome' for the master, and 'e was never
in fitter company. That's what _they_ say. But I've served 'im ten
years, and I'm fond of 'im, and, mind you, 'e's a great man,
when all's said an' done, and it's an honor to serve 'im. But 'e
does try one cruel at times. Now look at that, sir. That ain't
what you might call old-fashioned 'ospitality, is it now? Just
you read it for yourself."

The car on its lowest speed had ground its way up a steep,
curving ascent. At the corner a notice-board peered over a
well-clipped hedge. As Austin said, it was not difficult to
read, for the words were few and arresting:--

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| WARNING. |
| ---- |
| Visitors, Pressmen, and Mendicants |
| are not encouraged. |