"Andre Norton & Rosemary Edghill - Carolus Rex 1 - The Shadow of Albion" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

action. Only boldness would serve her purpose now, so bold she would be. Sarah
took her courage firmly in hand and approached one of the streetтАЩs inhabitants for
directions.
тАЮIf you please, sir, which way is it to the Goat and Compasses?тАЬ she asked.
The man thus hailed possessed a certain air of respectability which, on closer
examination, had a marked taint of illusion to it. He wore a suit of plain brown cloth
elaborately faced with purple velvet, and his sleeves were trimmed with buttons that
resembled nothing so much as a row of large brass sovereigns.
тАЮWell, now, and what would a pretty country miss such as yourself be wanting
with the Goat? I know a place quite near here that can answer all your wants, and a
sweeter snuggery youтАЩll not find, or my name isnтАЩt Reverend Richard Blaine!тАЬ The
man smiled ingratiatingly and stepped forward to take SarahтАЩs arm.
тАЮAnd no more it is!тАЬ rumbled a deep voice from behind Sarah. She spun about to
confront the most enormous coal-black man she had ever seen.
He was at least a handspan over six feet tall, and nearly as wide. He wore no coat,
and his workshirt bulged over a massive barrel chest. On one shoulder he carried an
iron-bound wooden keg of the sort that usually contained spirits.
тАЮYouтАЩre no more a Reverend than I am, Dickie Blaine, and your kind isnтАЩt wanted
here,тАЬ the newcomer said meaningfully.
If Sarah had possessed any doubts about the тАЮReverendтАЩsтАЬ bona fides, they were
substantiated by the speed with which the man took to his heels.
тАЮI suppose I must thank you, sir,тАЬ she said to her rescuer.
He shifted the keg upon one work-shirted shoulder and grinned down at her from
his formidable height, a brilliant white smile upon his smooth ebony face.
тАЮThe docks is no place for a mite of a girl like you. Run along back to your nurse
before worse happens to you, little miss,тАЬ he said, not unkindly.
тАЮBut I must reach the Goat and Compasses! They said on the тАУ I have heard that
the London Mail leaves .from there, but I donтАЩt know where it is,тАЬ Sarah finished in
a rush.
тАЮThe Mail, eh? Skipping out on your articles to become an Abbess, eh?тАЬ The
manтАЩs easy smile was gone, and he regarded her critically.
Sarah gathered her dignity as best she could, though she had understood not one
word of what seemed to be a condemnation of her plan.
тАЮI do not perfectly collect your meaning, sir. I am from Baltimore тАУ and I have an
appointment in London.тАЬ
He inspected her for one more critical moment, and then the easy smile returned.
тАЮAmerican, eh? Well, then, best you come along of me. I knows the Goat. Just you
come along of old Cerberus, Missus, and heтАЩll have you there quick as cat can lick
her ear тАУ aye, and safe aboard the Mail as well.тАЬ
With the aid of her Brobdingnagian companion, Sarah reached the Goat and
Compasses without further incident. There Cerberus delivered his keg and Sarah
purchased her ticket. At his advice, she purchased a dish of coffee as well, which
allowed her the use of the common parlor in which to await the coachтАЩs arrival. The
last she saw of her savior was his head and massive shoulders towering over me
press of humanity in the street as he strode in the direction of the docks once more.
Several hours later, Sarah looked back upon that moment as the last one in which
she had enjoyed any degree of physical comfort whatever. Upon the coachтАЩs
summons, she had left the coffee room of the Goat and Compasses to be packed,
with ten other fortunate passengers who had paid the extra shilling to ride тАЮinside,тАЬ
into the MailтАЩs cramped, stuffy, ill-sprung, unpadded interior.