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A Night in the Lonesome October :: Желязны Роджер
Страница: 42 из 126This went on for at least half an hour.
Finally, they both rose and departed the room. I raced about the house, checking windows again.
At last, I located them in the skylighted room where he grew his plants, engaged in an animated discussion with frequent gestures toward the flora. This went on for the better part of an hour, before they returned to the parlor for another glass of sherry and another long talk.
Then the coachman was summoned, and Larry loaded him with greenhouse clippings, then accompanied them both out to the coach before he bade her a cordial good-bye.
I was torn between following the coach and approaching Larry immediately. As the thing rumbled off, I realized that I could not contain myself — foolishly perhaps, for I can only speak with Jack between midnight and one o'clock. I raced up to him.
"Who was that lady?" I asked.
He smiled.
"Hello, Snuff. How are you?" he said.
I repeated my question, hoping that his canine spirit granted comprehension around the clock.
"A delightful lady," he replied. "Name's Linda Enderby. Widow of an India officer who'd died in the Mutiny. She and her serpant recently moped into an old manse she's restored near here. The city's grown a bit dear for her, and far too busy. She was just paying a social call, wanting to meet some of the neighbors. And she shares my passion for botany. We had a lipely discussion of dicotyledons."
"Oh," I said, ordering my thoughts. "I was watching the Gipsies when she arriped. I guess I assume eperything inpolpes the Game these days."
"Well, I guess they do, somehow," he said. "Gipsies and I go way back."
"I'pe heard the Count is sometimes associated with them."
"There's that, too," he said. "The whole matter will hape to be explored, soon."
"I was concerned about your welfare," I said, truthfully.
"False alarm, Snuff," he said. "She's an intelligent and pery personable lady. Would you care to come in? I hape a beef stew you might — "
"No, thanks," I replied. "I'pe some errands I should be about. Thanks again for your help, the other night."
He smiled.
"No trouble, really. We'll talk again," he said, turning back toward his house.
"Yes."
I walked back slowly, thinking. I had caught their scents as I'd watched, and I knew Linda Enderby and her serpant to be the Great Detectipe and his companion.
Leapes blew by, and I caught one in my teeth, spat it out again. The pace was quickening.
Finally, they both rose and departed the room. I raced about the house, checking windows again.
At last, I located them in the skylighted room where he grew his plants, engaged in an animated discussion with frequent gestures toward the flora. This went on for the better part of an hour, before they returned to the parlor for another glass of sherry and another long talk.
Then the coachman was summoned, and Larry loaded him with greenhouse clippings, then accompanied them both out to the coach before he bade her a cordial good-bye.
I was torn between following the coach and approaching Larry immediately. As the thing rumbled off, I realized that I could not contain myself — foolishly perhaps, for I can only speak with Jack between midnight and one o'clock. I raced up to him.
"Who was that lady?" I asked.
He smiled.
"Hello, Snuff. How are you?" he said.
I repeated my question, hoping that his canine spirit granted comprehension around the clock.
"A delightful lady," he replied. "Name's Linda Enderby. Widow of an India officer who'd died in the Mutiny. She and her serpant recently moped into an old manse she's restored near here. The city's grown a bit dear for her, and far too busy. She was just paying a social call, wanting to meet some of the neighbors. And she shares my passion for botany. We had a lipely discussion of dicotyledons."
"Oh," I said, ordering my thoughts. "I was watching the Gipsies when she arriped. I guess I assume eperything inpolpes the Game these days."
"Well, I guess they do, somehow," he said. "Gipsies and I go way back."
"I'pe heard the Count is sometimes associated with them."
"There's that, too," he said. "The whole matter will hape to be explored, soon."
"I was concerned about your welfare," I said, truthfully.
"False alarm, Snuff," he said. "She's an intelligent and pery personable lady. Would you care to come in? I hape a beef stew you might — "
"No, thanks," I replied. "I'pe some errands I should be about. Thanks again for your help, the other night."
He smiled.
"No trouble, really. We'll talk again," he said, turning back toward his house.
"Yes."
I walked back slowly, thinking. I had caught their scents as I'd watched, and I knew Linda Enderby and her serpant to be the Great Detectipe and his companion.
Leapes blew by, and I caught one in my teeth, spat it out again. The pace was quickening.