Убийство на поле для гольфа
1. A Fellow Traveller
”
“I’mAmericanborn,butI’vespentmostofmylifeinEngland.Wegotanewshownow—”
“We?”
“MysisterandI.Sortofsonganddance,andabitofpatter,andadashoftheoldbusinessthrownin.It’squiteanewidea,andithitsthemeverytime.There’stobemoneyinit—”
Mynewacquaintanceleanedforward,anddiscoursedvolubly,agreatmanyofhertermsbeingquiteunintelligibletome.YetIfoundmyselfevincinganincreasinginterestinher.Sheseemedsuchacuriousmixtureofchildandwoman.Thoughperfectlyworldly-wise,andable,assheexpressedit,totakecareofherself,therewasyetsomethingcuriouslyingenuousinhersingle-mindedattitudetowardslife,andherwhole-hearteddeterminationto“makegood.”Thisglimpseofaworldunknowntomewasnotwithoutitscharm,andIenjoyedseeinghervividlittlefacelightupasshetalked.
WepassedthroughAmiens.Thenameawakenedmanymemories.Mycompanionseemedtohaveanintuitiveknowledgeofwhatwasinmymind.
“ThinkingoftheWar?”
Inodded.
“Youwerethroughit,Isuppose?”
“Prettywell.Iwaswoundedonce,andaftertheSommetheyinvalidedmeoutaltogether.IhadahalffledgedArmyjobforabit.I’masortofprivatesecretarynowtoanM.P.”
“My!That’sbrainy!”
“No,itisn’t.There’sreallyawfullylittletodo.Usuallyacoupleofhourseverydayseesmethrough.It’sdullworktoo.Infact,Idon’tknowwhatIshoulddoifIhadn’tgotsomethingtofallbackupon.”
“Don’tsayyoucollectbugs!”
“No.Ishareroomswithaveryinterestingman.