登陆注册
5235600000029

第29章 XVII(2)

"Frankness is always the best course," said Mr. Hoopdriver.

"Well, then--who the devil set you on this business?"

"Set me ON this business?"

"Don't pretend to be stupid. Who's your employer? Who engaged you for this job?"

"Well," said Mr. Hoopdriver, confused. "No--I can't say."

"Quite sure?" The other man in brown glanced meaningly down at his hand, and Mr. Hoopdriver, following him mechanically, saw a yellow milled edge glittering in the twilight. Now your shop assistant is just above the tip-receiving class, and only just above it--so that he is acutely sensitive on the point.

Mr. Hoopdriver flushed hotly, and his eyes were angry as he met those of the other man in brown. "Stow it!" said Mr. Hoopdriver, stopping and facing the tempter.

"What!" said the other man in brown, surprised. "Eigh?" And so saying he stowed it in his breeches pocket.

"D'yer think I'm to be bribed?" said Mr. Hoopdriver, whose imagination was rapidly expanding the situation. "By Gosh! I'd follow you now--"

"My dear sir," said the other man in brown, "I beg your pardon. I misunderstood you. I really beg your pardon. Let us walk on. In your profession--"

"What have you got to say against my profession?"

"Well, really, you know. There are detectives of an inferior description--watchers. The whole class. Private Inquiry--I did not realise--I really trust you will overlook what was, after all--you must admit--a natural indiscretion. Men of honour are not so common in the world--in any profession."

It was lucky for Mr. Hoopdriver that in Midhurst they do not light the lamps in the summer time, or the one they were passing had betrayed him. As it was, he had to snatch suddenly at his moustache and tug fiercely at it, to conceal the furious tumult of exultation, the passion of laughter, that came boiling up.

Detective! Even in the shadow Bechamel saw that a laugh was stifled, but he put it down to the fact that the phrase "men of honour" amused his interlocutor. "He'll come round yet," said Bechamel to himself. "He's simply holding out for a fiver." He coughed.

"I don't see that it hurts you to tell me who your employer is."

"Don't you? I do."

"Prompt," said Bechamel, appreciatively. "Now here's the thing I want to put to you--the kernel of the whole business. You need not answer if you don't want to. There's no harm done in my telling you what I want to know. Are you employed to watch me--or Miss Milton?"

"I'm not the leaky sort," said Mr. Hoopdriver, keeping the secret he did not know with immense enjoyment. Miss Milton! That was her name. Perhaps he'd tell some more. "It's no good pumping. Is that all you're after?" said Mr. Hoopdriver.

Bechamel respected himself for his diplomatic gifts. He tried to catch a remark by throwing out a confidence. "I take it there are two people concerned in watching this affair."

"Who's the other?" said Mr. Hoopdriver, calmly, but controlling with enormous internal tension his selfappreciation. "Who's the other?" was really brilliant, he thought.

"There's my wife and HER stepmother."

"And you want to know which it is?"

"Yes," said Bechamel.

"Well--arst 'em!" said Mr. Hoopdriver, his exultation getting the better of him, and with a pretty consciousness of repartee. "Arst 'em both."

Bechamel turned impatiently. Then he made a last effort. "I'd give a five-pound note to know just the precise state of affairs," he said.

"I told you to stow that," said Mr. Hoopdriver, in a threatening tone. And added with perfect truth and a magnificent mystery, "You don't quite understand who you're dealing with. But you will!" He spoke with such conviction that he half believed that that defective office of his in London--Baker Street, in fact-- really existed.

With that the interview terminated. Bechamel went back to the Angel, perturbed. "Hang detectives!" It wasn't the kind of thing he had anticipated at all. Hoopdriver, with round eyes and a wondering smile, walked down to where the mill waters glittered in the moonlight, and after meditating over the parapet of the bridge for a space, with occasional murmurs of, "Private Inquiry" and the like, returned, with mystery even in his paces, towards the town.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 初临大陆

    初临大陆

    混沌初开女娲造人后,首生人类族裔在初临之地的冒险故事
  • 武炼天穹

    武炼天穹

    一个少年的热血之旅,两世情缘的纠纷,为红颜丶为兄弟丶为家族,为了他应该守护的那些人,他愿意武炼天下,与苍生为敌。既然上天给了我重生机会,那么前世未能完成的夙愿,今世将不留遗憾。
  • 顺风车老公

    顺风车老公

    她居然有老公了,而她最后一个才知道。请问这是肿么回事?帅帅老公赶不跑也就算了。可动不动逼她一起洗洗睡,这就不能忍了。她诚心建议:“大叔咱俩离婚好不?”“离了婚谁帮你撑腰?”他微微一笑,“乖乖喊声老公,老公让你翻身做主人。”她明明要把他踹飞银行系,结果猛眨星星眼:“……老公,真的?”“当然是真的。”他似笑非笑,“记着,生一个,送宝马;生两个,送宝岛……”“那——”她眼巴巴地瞅着他,“生三个呢?”
  • 余生皆是喜欢你

    余生皆是喜欢你

    新书《重生成偏执霍少的小仙女》已发,求支持~四年后,她携子归来。一个尊贵霸道的男人突然闯进她世界里。从此她的世界,多了一大一小两个霸道鬼。(1V1,有小包子)
  • 世界忧蓝成伤

    世界忧蓝成伤

    富家胖千金遭遇极品渣男,住院三年后蜕变归来,再遇暖心竹马和糟心渣男,她是该选择坚守幸福还是绝地反击?最后他们能得到幸福吗?
  • 泼妇招夫

    泼妇招夫

    穿越到异界,爹不亲,娘不爱,下头还有五个妹妹,古代超生队是有,可要全都是女孩,就不被人待见了。家里堂兄弟多,可尽欺她们没有兄弟,爹娘怕没有人养老,早早的巴结别人家的孩子,属于放养的孩子伤不起,特别是还要照顾这一干小屁孩子的时候。吃不饱,穿不暖,太家常便饭了,生活怎么可以这么悲崔!于是穿越过来的有喜怒了,吃不饱,只要能入口的,都让她找了出来,穿不暖,小本生意可以做,只要六姐妹齐心,这日子还是过得风风火火的。只是,为啥这些三姑二大姨的,个个都争做媒婆了?她这泼妇不是无人问津的吗?还有,这些最是无耻的堂兄弟,说的是人话吗?什么叫她们只是赔钱货,迟早都要嫁出云,她们东西都要他们的?最最可恨的,明明她们这一干姐妹的努力,怎么到了父母的嘴里,就变成他们的产业了!她陆有喜就要守住家业!女孩就不是传后人了吗!于是,村姑的招夫行动开始了。被一干恶狼般的亲戚吓狠了,陆有喜的招夫对像,必须要满足第一个,那就是无父无母,无不良亲戚!想像太美好,结果招了个家里尽是兄弟的曾一鸣。原因无他,人家兄弟多,保准家里的亲戚占不到甜头!相公人是穷,不过看他志不穷的份上,她就接收了。
  • 快穿:我家男主超直的

    快穿:我家男主超直的

    莫名其妙被一个改造系统给绑定了,还要她莫名其妙攻略男主,宁娇娇表示,她是拒绝的,让她好好的当一只单身狗,吃点狗粮不好吗?!任务开始前期,宁娇娇努力的想要过咸鱼人生,得过且过,佛系随缘攻略男主什么的,就算了,还每次都努力想要撮合男主。系统:宿主,请不要作死。男主:我超直的,不然,你来试试?攻略后期,系统花样给宁娇娇发布任务,努力的想要撮合宁娇娇和男配。宁娇娇:狗系统,我只想活着,为什么要害我?男配:喜欢我不好吗?我比男主还直,不信?关小黑屋,我们慢慢来聊聊人生……
  • 邪医狂妃:王爷药别停

    邪医狂妃:王爷药别停

    她绝对是扫把星附身!堂堂微生物学家穿成废柴不说,还差点被人毁尸灭迹!爹娘死光负债累累,面临满门抄斩时,高富帅带着银票直降闺房。可恶!这个男人不仅强买成为她的金主大人,还逼她出门赚钱养家!俗话说的好,知识就是力量,正当她小日子蒸蒸日上,渣亲戚们扎堆出现,居然妄图瓜分她的劳动成果!放肆!姑奶奶我卖身换来的家当,岂是你们可以觊觎的!王爷,奴家都已委身于你,你是不是要帮奴家打坏人?【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 娇妻在上:总裁,请负责

    娇妻在上:总裁,请负责

    社会我雨姐,人狠话不多的程小雨为了帮助闺蜜收拾滥情的渣男,大闹了枫林酒店,结果认错人居然是“收拾”了枫林集团的敬文宇大少爷。敬老夫人又把程小雨误认为了自己的儿媳妇,上门提亲,程爸程妈也是相当满意未来的女婿,两家长辈竟然直接的订了亲。一系列的阴差阳错迫使两个原本互相看不顺眼的人不得不一致对外。为了避免无厘头的婚姻,敬文宇和程小雨变着法儿的想毁掉婚约,结果,越毁约,越恩爱。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 山水

    山水

    案上,一张六尺宣纸上,烟云酝酿,翠峰崭露,一支羊毫小楷画笔搁在墨盘边上,紧挨墨盘,立了一只剩了残酒的酒瓶。良骏看着宣纸上的水墨画迹,他从不跟父亲谈画,哪怕一句,从来不提。东方无稽也一样,不过问儿子的工作,轻松、劳累,顺心、憋气——从来不问。东方无稽喝慢酒,一口,一口,浅斟,细品。良骏坐在父亲身边。终于,东方无稽酒喝好了,面微醺,眼蒙眬。这时,良骏起身,出门,随手将门拉上。