"Christopher Priest - The Space Machine" - читать интересную книгу автора (Priest Christopher)

"Please wait a moment," said Miss Fitzgibbon.

She crept over to me, and raised her mouth until it was beside my ear.

"I shall have to let her in," she whispered. "I know what to do. Please turn your back."

"what?" I said in astonishment.

"Turn your back .. please!"

I stared at her in anguish for a moment longer, then did as she said. I heard her move away from me
towards the wardrobe, and then there came the sound of her pulling at the clasps and buttons of her
gown. I closed my eyes firmly, covering them with my hand. The enormity of my situation was without
parallel.

I heard the wardrobe door close, and then felt the touch of a hand on my arm. I looked: Miss
Fitzgibbon was standing beside me, a long striped flannel dressing-gown covering her. She had taken the
pins from her hair so that it fell loosely about her face.

"Take these," she whispered, thrusting the two brandy-glasses into my hands. "Wait inside the
bath-room."
 "Miss Fitzgibbon, I really must insist!" said Mrs Anson.

I stumbled towards the bath-room door. As I did so I glanced back and saw Miss Fitzgibbon throwing
back the covers of the bed and crumpling the linen and bolster. She took my samples-case, and thrust it
under the chase longue. I went inside the bath-room and closed the door. In the dark I leaned back
against the door frame, and felt my hands trembling.

The outer door was opened.

"Mrs Anson, what is it you want?"

I heard Mrs Anson march into the room.. I could imagine her glaring suspiciously about, and I waited
for the moment of her irruption into the bath-room.

"Miss Fitzgibbon, it is very late. Why are you not yet asleep?"

"I am doing some reading. Had you not knocked when you did, I dare say I should be asleep at this
moment."

"I distinctly heard a male voice."

"But you can see... I am alone. Could it not have been from the next room?"

"It came from in here."

"Were you listening at the door?"

"Of course not! I was passing down the lower corridor on the way to my own room."