Чужак в чужой стране

           "I’mgladtohearthathehasbeenfound.Thankyou,sir."

           "He’sbeenpickeduponatechnicalchargeof‘vagrancy.’Thechargewon’tbepressed–insteadwearereleasinghimtoyou."

           "Iamverymuchinyourdebt,sir."

           "Oh,it’snotentirelyafavor!I’mhavinghimdeliveredtoyouinthestateinwhichhewasfound–filthy,unshaven,and,Iunderstand,smellinglikeabrewery.Iwantyoutoseeforyourselfwhatsortofatrampheis."

           "Verywell,sir.WhenmayIexpecthim?"

           "Almostatonce,Ifancy.AcourierarrowleftNogalessometimeago.AtMachthreeorbetteritshouldbeoverheadsoon.Thepilothasinstructionstodeliverhimtoyouandgetareceipt."

           "Heshallhaveit."

           "Now,Counsellor?havingdeliveredhim,Iwashmyhandsofit.Ishallexpectyou,andyourclient,toappearfortalkswhetheryoufetchalongthatdrunkenlibellerornot."

           "Agreed.When?"

           "Shallwesaytomorrowatten?Here."

           "‘Twerebestdonequickly.’Agreed."

           Jubalwentbackdownstairsandpausedathisbrokendoor."Jill!Comehere,child."

           "Yes,Jubal."Shetrottedtowardhim,areporterincloseformationwithher.

           Jubalwavedthemanback."Private,"hesaidfirmly."Familymatter.Gohaveadrink."

           "Whosefamily?"

           "Adeathinyours,ifyouinsist.Scat!"Thenewsmangrinnedandacceptedit.JuballeanedoverGillianandsaidsoftly,"Itworked.He’ssafe."

           "Ben?"

           "Yes.He’llbeheresoon."

           "Oh,Jubal!"Shestartedtobawl.

           Hetookhershoulders.