Никогде
Two
"Nofoollikeanoldfool,"agreedthemarquis.Hereachedahandintoaninsidepocketofhiscoatandpulledoutasilverbox,largerthanasnuffbox,smallerthanacigarbox,andagooddealmoreornatethaneither."Doyouknowwhatthisis?"
"IwishIdidn’t."
"You’llkeepitsafeforme."
"Idon’twantit."
"Youdon’thaveanychoice,"saidthemarquis.Theoldroof-mantookthesilverboxfromhimandheldit,awkwardly,inbothhands,asifitweresomethingthatmightexplodeatanymoment.ThemarquisproddedRichardgentlywithhissquare-toedblackboot:"Right,"hesaid."We’dbettergetamoveon,hadn’twe?"Hestrodeoffacrosstheroof,andRichardgottohisfeetandfollowed,keepingwellawayfromthesideofthebuilding.Themarquisopenedadoorinthesideofthetower,besideahighclusterofchimneys,andtheywentdownapoorlylitspiralstaircase.
"Whowasthatman?"askedRichard,peeringthroughthedimlight.Theirfootstepsechoedandreverberateddownthemetalstairs.
ThemarquisdeCarabassnorted."Youhaven’theardawordI’vesaid,haveyou?You’reintroublealready.Everythingyoudo,everythingyousay,everythingyouhear,justmakesitworse.Youhadbetterprayyouhaven’tsteppedtoofarin."
Itwasnowcompletelydark,andRichardstumbledslightlyashereachedthelastofthestepsandfoundhimselflookingforastepthatwasn’tthere.
