Никогде
Two
ThenMr.Vandemar,whohadbeenintheprocessofexaminingRichard’slivingroom,turnedbacktowardRichard,andRichardsuddenlyrealizedthathehadneverbeensoscaredofanotherhumanbeinginhislife.
AndthenfoxyMr.Croupsaid,"Whyyes,whatevercanhavecomeoveryou,MisterVandemar?It’sgriefforourdearsweetsibling,I’llwager,hasturnedhishead.Nowapologizetothegentleman,MisterVandemar."
Mr.Vandemarnodded,andponderedforamoment."ThoughtIneededtousethetoilet,"hesaid."Didn’t.Sorry."
Mr.Croupbegantowalkdownthehall,pushingMr.Vandemarinfrontofhim."There.Now,you’llforgivemyerrantbrotherhislackofsocialgraces,Itrust.Worryoverourpoordearwidowedmother,andoveroursister,whomevenaswespeakiswanderingthestreetsofLondonunlovedanduncared-for,hasnighunhingedhim,I’llbebound.Butforallthat,he’sagoodfellowtohaveatyourside.Is’tnotso,stoutfellow?"TheywereoutofRichard’sapartmentnow,intothestairwell.Mr.Vandemarsaidnothing.Hedidnotlookunhingedwithgrief.CroupturnedbacktoRichardandessayedanotherfoxysmile."Youwilltellusifyouseeher,"hesaid.
"Good-bye,"saidRichard.Thenheclosedthedoorandlockedit.And,forthefirsttimesincehehadlivedthere,heattachedthesecuritychain.
Mr.Croup,whohadcutRichard’sphonelineatthefirstmentionofcallingthepolice,wasstartingtowonderwhetherhehadcuttherightcordornot.Twentieth-centurytelecommunicationstechnologynotbeinghisstrongestpoint.HetookoneofthephotocopiesfromVandemar,andpositioneditonthewallofthestairwell."Spit!"hesaidtoVandemar.
