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

backtrackin' that money. I reckon any kind of money leaves its trail, and I can
read sign as good as anybody. I'll follow that trail right back to where it come
from an' right back to you, so's I will know how much is involved an' why you
keep putting me off."
He stood up too. "There's nothing to worry about, Miss Sackett. Your money will
be here. However"Чand there was a hard edge to his voiceЧ"I would advise you to
change your tone. You are in Philadelphia now, Miss Sackett, not back in your
mountains. You would do well to curb your tongue."
"You have that money for me and you'll not have to put up with me."
He started to speak angrily, then changed his mind. He changed it so fast the
words backed up on him, but he finally come out with it. "I am sorry, Miss
Sackett, we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot. I did not wish to offend
you or cause unnecessary delays. I only hoped to make your stay more agreeable."
To be honest, that was all he had done. Maybe I'd been set on edge by the doubts
of my bald-headed friend or something in James White's manner, or the fact that
I'd been followed from the time I arrived in town. Come to think on it, he'd
said nothing a body could take offense to.
"I am sorry too," I said. "I shall be here in the morning."
When I fetched myself to the sidewalk, the tall young man from the office was
standin' there. He looked me up and down, impudent as you please, and then he
said, "Come along, Miss Sackett, and I'll walk you home."
"No, thanks. I shall walk by myself. I have much to do."
He laughed at me, not a very nice laugh. "How'd you an' ol' White get along? You
better watch him. He's got an eye for the girls."
I walked across the street, and was so irritated that I did not notice whether I
was followed or not. It was several blocks before I thought to look, but I saw
nobody. It was late afternoon and folks had either gone home or were going.
Turning back, I saw I was in front of the building with the brass nameplates,
and there it was again: "CHANTRY & CHANTRY, LAWYERS."
Up the steps I went and into a hall where several doors had names on them.
Opening the Chantry door, I stepped into an outer office that was all shadowed
and still. There were two desks and chairs, and along one side was a leather
settee for those who waited. The door to an inner office was open a crack and I
could hear the scratching of a pen. Stepping into the door, I peered inside.
A white-haired man was sitting behind a desk, writing. Piled beside him were
several lawbooks, and one of them was open.
As I peeked in, he looked up, right into my eyes. He stared at me as if not
believing what he saw, and I stared back, embarrassed.

He stood up, and he was very tall. Tall as Regal, maybe, but not so muscular.
"Will you come in, please? My clerk has gone home, I believe." He came around
the desk. "I am Finian Chantry."
Taking a further step into the room, I stood, my feet together, very erect, very
prim. "I am Echo Sackett."
He gestured to a chair, then turned back to his desk, pausing in midstride.
"Sackett, did you say? Sackett?"
"Yes, sir. I am afraid I am presuming, sir, but there was no one in the outer
office and I hoped to have a word with you, sir."
"Sit down, Miss Sackett. Echo, did you say? What a pretty name!"
"I am glad you think so, sir. Many think it strange, but we live in the