Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Conspiracy Unmasked
SuddenlyinthedistancetheS.-B.sappeared,comingtowardsus.Bilbosloweddown,andthenheypresto!hevanished.IwassostartledthatIhardlyhadthewitstohidemyselfinamoreordinaryfashion;butIgotthroughthehedgeandwalkedalongthefieldinside.Iwaspeepingthroughintotheroad,aftertheS.-B.shadpassed,andwaslookingstraightatBilbowhenhesuddenlyreappeared.Icaughtaglintofgoldasheputsomethingbackinhistrouser-pocket.
"AfterthatIkeptmyeyesopen.Infact,IconfessthatIspied.Butyoumustadmitthatitwasveryintriguing,andIwasonlyinmyteens.ImustbetheonlyoneintheShire,besidesyouFrodo,thathaseverseentheoldfelow’ssecretbook."
"Youhavereadhisbook!"criedFrodo."Goodheavensabove!Isnothingsafe?"
"Nottoosafe,Ishouldsay,"saidMerry."ButIhaveonlyhadonerapidglance,andthatwasdifficulttoget.Heneverleftthebookabout.Iwonderwhatbecameofit.Ishouldlikeanotherlook.Haveyougotit,Frodo?"
"No.ItwasnotatBagEnd.Hemusthavetakenitaway."
"Wel,asIwassaying,"Merryproceeded,"Ikeptmyknowledgetomyself,tillthisSpringwhenthingsgotserious.Thenweformedourconspiracy;andaswewereserious,too,andmeantbusiness,wehavenotbeentooscrupulous.Youarenotaveryeasynuttocrack,andGandalfisworse.Butifyouwanttobeintroducedtoourchiefinvestigator,Icanproducehim."
"Whereishe?"saidFrodo,lookinground,asifheexpectedamaskedandsinisterfiguretocomeoutofacupboard.
