"Louis L'amour - sackett05 - Ride The River" - читать интересную книгу автора (L'Amour Louis)

kind of law he did. He had a very quiet, secure sort of business, but I wanted
to be where things were happening. And I wished to write."
"Thank you. I believe you have told me what I need to know. I think we should go
now."
"May I come with you? I've noticed, sir, some very rough characters have been
watching you. You dress too well to be walking around down here."
"Come, if you will. It is only a few blocks to where my carriage waits, and I
have Archie with me."
As they left the Dutchman's, Finian saw a side door back of the bar open and
close, and he smiled a little to himself. You are an old fool, Finian, he told
himself, to be thinking such thoughts at your age!
When they reached the corner a block from the Dutchman's, they saw three men
under the gaslight. The three glanced their way, then turned and walked along
ahead of them.
"Did you see them, Archie?"
"I did, sir. There may be trouble."
"It has been a long time since I have had that kind of trouble, Archie. I have
often wondered how I would react."
"Sir?" Gibbons said. "One of those men up ahead is Bully BensonЧhe's a thug and
a murderer. If I am not mistaken, there will be others behind us."
"Of course, Johnny. Be careful, now. I grew up on this sort of thing. There was
that night in BombayЧ"
"There they are, sir. They are waiting for us."
"Johnny, you and Archie take care of those behind us. Leave the three in front
to me. I shall take it as a favor."
"Sir, you are eighty-six years old! Please, sirЧ"
"Years of experience, Johnny. I think we shall surprise them."
"He fences every day at the club," Archie said. "There's nobody there can handle
him. Not even those young naval officers."
They rounded the corner and three rough-looking characters were spread across
the walk before them.
Finian smiled. "Good evening, gentlemen! Is there something we can do for you?"
"You can hand over d' belt, d' coin! An' quick!"
Finian Chantry held his cane in two hands and smiled. "Ah? You hear him, Johnny?
The man's threatening me!" His eyes went from one to the other. "And if I don't
choose to?"
"We'll bust your damn skull!"
"You're Benson, I take it? Well, Benson, I'll give you a chance. Turn about now
and run. Get away from here while you can, and we'll make believe this never
happened."
"Blimey! Would y' listen to that? The old gent's balmy! He's off his bloody
course, he is!"
"You're a pack of bilge-swilling swine!" Chantry said. "I've money enough in my
pockets to keep you drunk for a month of Sundays, but if you come for it, you'll
be wearing your guts for neckties!"
One of the men started to back off. "Listen t' him, Bully! This one's no gent!
Let's get out of here!"
"If I had the lot of you aboard a ship of mine," Finian said cheerfully, "I'd
have you kissing the gunner's daughter! You'd be bent over a starb'rd gun
getting fifty good ones on the backside from a Penang lawyer!"