Властелин колец: Братство кольца
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony
‘Notmuch,Barliman,buteverylittlehelps.YoucanletMr.Underhillstayheretonight,asMr.Underhill;andyoucanforgetthenameofBaggins,tillheisfaraway.’
‘I’lldothat,’saidButterbur.‘Butthey’llfindouthe’sherewithouthelpfromme,I’mafraid.It’sapityMr.Bagginsdrewattentiontohimselfthisevening,tosaynomore.ThestoryofthatMr.Bilbo’sgoingoffhasbeenheardbeforetonightinBree.EvenourNobhasbeendoingsomeguessinginhisslowpate;andthereareothersinBreequickerintheuptakethanheis.’
‘Well,wecanonlyhopetheRiderswon’tcomebackyet,’saidFrodo.
‘Ihopenot,indeed,’saidButterbur.‘Butspooksornospooks,theywon’tgetinThePonysoeasy.Don’tyouworrytillthemorning.Nob’llsaynoword.Noblackmanshallpassmydoors,whileIcanstandonmylegs.Meandmyfolk’llkeepwatchtonight;butyouhadbestgetsomesleep,ifyoucan.’
‘Inanycasewemustbecalledatdawn,’saidFrodo.‘Wemustgetoffasearlyaspossible.Breakfastatsix-thirty,please.’
‘Right!I’llseetotheorders,’saidthelandlord.‘Goodnight,Mr.Baggins–Underhill,Ishouldsay!Goodnight–now,blessme!Where’syourMr.Brandybuck?’
‘Idon’tknow,’saidFrodowithsuddenanxiety.TheyhadforgottenallaboutMerry,anditwasgettinglate.‘Iamafraidheisout.Hesaidsomethingaboutgoingforabreathofair.’
‘Well,youdowantlookingafterandnomistake:yourpartymightbeonaholiday!’saidButterbur.
