"James White - Custom Fitting" - читать интересную книгу автора (White James)

decision whether or not he would build a jacket around Fox's prominent shoulder blades.

"I am not the client, Mr. Hewlitt," Fox said impatiently. "He is waiting outside. However, this matter must
be treated in the strictest confidenceтАФkept absolutely secret, in fact, for the next two weeks. After that
you may discuss it with whom you please.

"From our thorough if necessarily hasty inquiries," the Foreign Office official went on, "we know that you
live above these premises with your wife, who is also your seamstress and a partial cripple. We also
know that your work is competent, if a little old-fashioned as regards styling, and that your stock is
remarkably lacking in materials using man-made fibers. For many years your financial position has not
been good, and I should say at this juncture that your silence as well as your workmanship will be very
highly paid.

"The garment itself should present no difficulty," Fox ended, "since all that is required is a fairly well-fitting
horse blanket."

Coldly, Hewlitt said, "I am completely lacking in experience where horse blankets are concerned, Mr.
Fox."

"You are being proud and unnecessarily stubborn, Mr. Hewlitt. This is a very important client, and may I
remind you that across the street there is a branch of a well-known multiple tailoring company which is
also capable of doing the job."

"I agree," said Hewlitt dryly. "That company could do a pretty good jobтАФon a horse blanket."

Fox smiled faintly, but before he could reply one of the workmen entered and said, "The screens are in
position, sir, and the van is blocking the view from the other side of the street. Now we need the pole to
pull out the sun awning. That will hide the shop front from upper-story windows on the other side of the
street."

Hewlitt pointed toward the recess behind the display window where the awning pole was kept.

"Thank you, sir," said the workman in the tones of a senior public servant who is addressing a lowly
member of the public he serves, then he turned away. "Wait," said Fox, visibly coming to a decision.
"When you've done that, ask

His Excellency if he would be good enough to come in, please."

The strict secrecy being observed, the Foreign Office involvement, and the type of garment required had
led Hewlitt to expect some highly controversial political figure: an overweight person from an underfed
nation who was intent on expressing his individuality and independence by wearing an English-tailored
native garment. Such a person might well be frightened of an assassin's bullet and feel it necessary to take
these elaborate precautions: but that, after all, was not any of Hewlitt's business. But when he saw the
client...

I'm dreaming, he told himself firmly.

The creature resembled a centaur, complete with hooves and a long, streaming tail. At first glance the
torso from the waist up resembled that of a human being: but the musculature of the arms, shoulders, and
chest was subtly different, and the hands were five-digited, each comprised of three fingers and two