i 1e8801ab96205980 by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: rus
Format: epub

Mr Beresford himself grinned, illustratively. But for what followed they were completely unprepared. Mr Beresford raised one hand, brought it down on the table with an explosive impact, and said: `Wait, now! in tones of such violence and urgency that Daphne upset, the remainder of her beer; Mr Beresford apologized, but hurriedly, his impassive features were as nearly excited as they could ever be. While Daphne scrubbed at her dress with a handkerchief and Fen shifted hastily away from a Niagara of beer which was pouring over the edge of the table, Mr Beresford took so other action than to raise his forefinger impressively, in token of some inspiration which had visited him.

'Charlie Rumbles,' he breathed at his distracted audience. `Charlie Rumbles.'

At first, and not unnaturally, they took: this to be a comment on the digestive processes of some local worthy, and stared at, Mr Beresford in surprise; but they were soon disabused of the notion.

"E saw 'im,' Mr Beresford proceeded, pronominally obscure: "E saw 'im leave 'er cottage.'

Fen ventured to ask for elucidation.

'Charlie Rumbles it were,’ Mr Beresford was cooling off rapidiy, and seemed, indeed, rather confused and ashamed it his outburst. `You 'aven''t spoiled your pretty frock, I ‘ope, Miss Savage?'

'No, so,' said Daphne gallantly. `Tell us what Charlie Rumbles saw, Mr Beresford.' She, scrubbed more fiercely than ever.

Mr Beresford, however, was by now mindful of his respossibilities. He fetched a cloth from the bar and mopped the table with it. Only when this operation was complete, and Fen had ordered a second round of drinks, did he return to the matter in hand.

`What you was askin', sir, was if Mr Somers. ever 'ad aught to do with Mother Bly. An' oi said no, 'aving forgotten' about Charlie. Y'see, Charlie, 'e'm a bit slow up 'ere.' Mr Beresford tapped his forehead significantly. `Can't always rely on 'im. So when 'e tells me, just afore closin' time Tuesday, as he's seen Mr Somers: leavin', Mother Bly's cottage earlier on: well, oi didn't pay much attention.: Oi thought to meself, 'e's imagining things. And 'that's'ow oi came to forget.'

He. drank deeply, with a penitential air. For the moment Fen made no reply, for he was considering the sequence of events elicited is the last few minutes. Mr Taverner discovers some 'old things' in Mrs Bly's cottage; Mr Taverner talks to Somers; Somers visits Mrs Bly and is subsequently much elated. Fen glanced at the clock over the bar and saw that the hands were close on the hour.

'And you're expecting Mr Taverner?' he asked. `Prompt at one, sir. Any minute, now. And E’ll be able to tell you, take my word for it. 'E's a edicated man, is Mr Taverner, and a famous preacher.'

`A preacher?'

`Lay-preacher, sir. 'E's preached all over county. But 'e ain't no 'oly Jesus, mind you,' Mr Beresford added - a recommendation which struck Fen as quaint. `` 'Cept on Sundays, 'e likes 'is pint same as the next man.'

Mr Beresford paused to listen; footsteps were approaching the bar door, and as the latch was lifted the clock whirred and struck one.

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