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第24章 蓝宝石十字架4（第2页）

"Upthatsedroado-hahenacrossthesquare，"saidtheotherpromptly。

"Thanks，"repliedValentin，andvanishedlikeafairy。Ohersideofthesedsquarehefoundapolidsaid，"Thisisurgent，stable，haveyouseentwymes?"

Thepolibegantochuckleheavily。"Ihave，sir;andifyouaskme，ohemwasdruoodinthemiddleoftheroadthatbewilderedthat。。。

"Whichwaydidtheygo?"sin。

"Theytookoneofyellowbusesoverthere，"aheman，"themthatgotoHampstead。"

&inproducedhisofficialdsaidveryrapidly，"Calluptwoofyourmehmeinpursuit，"aheroadwithsutagiythattheponderouspoliwasmovedtoalmostagileobedienaminuteandahalftheFreivewasjoiepavementbyaorandamaninplainclothes。

"Well，sir，"begantheformer，withsmilingimporta;andwhatmay。。。"

&inpoihhise。"I'lltellyouohatomnibus，"hesaid，andwasdartinganddodgingacrossthetaraffiallthreesankpantisoftheyellowvehicle，theiorsaid，"Weesasquiataxi。"

"Quitetrue，"repliedtheirleaderplacidly，"ifweonlyhadanideaoferegoing。"

"Well，whereareyougoing?"askedthe。

&insmlyforafewse，removinghiscigarette，hesaid，"Ifyouknowwhataman'sdoiinfrontofhim;butifyouwahe'sdoing，keepbehindhim。Straywherays;stopwheravelasslowlyashe。Thenyoumayseewhathesawandmayactasheacted。Allwedoistokeepoureyesskinnedf。"

"Whatsortdoyoumean?"askedtheior。

"Anysort，"ain，aoobstinatesilence。

Theyellowomnibuscrawledupthenorthernroadsforwhatseemedlikehoursodetectivewouldnotexplainfurther，andperhapshisassistaasilentandgrowingdoubtofhiserrand。Perhaps，also，theyfeltasilentandgrowingdesireforlunch，forthehpastthenormallunhour，andthelongroadsoftheNorthLondonsuburbsseemedtoshootoutierlengthlikeaelescope。ItwasohosejourneysonetuallyfeelsthatnowatlasthemusthaveetotheendoftheuhenfindshehasohebeginningofTufnellPark。Londondiedawayiavernsanddrearysdthenwasunatablybaininblazinghighstreetsandblataassingthroughthirteeevulgarcitiesalljusttougeachother。Butthoughtheasalreadythreateningtheroadaheadofthem，theParisiaillsatsilentandwatchful，eyeiageofthestreetsthatslidbyoherside。BythetimetheyhadleftTowhepoliwerenearlyasleep;atleast，theygavesomethinglikeajumpasVale，strudonea'sshoulder，ahedrivertostop。

&umbleddowheroadwithwhytheyhadbeeheylookedrhteheyfouriumphantlypointinghisfioosideoftheroad。Itwasalargewindpartofthelongfacadeofagiltandpalatialpublic-house;itartreservedforrespeing，a;Restaurant。"Thiswiherestaleofthehotel，wasoffrostedandfiguredglass;butinthemiddleofitwasabig，blacksmash，likeastarintheice。

"Ourcueatlast，"criedValentin，wavinghisstick，"theplacewiththebrokenwindow。"

"hatcue?"askedhisprincipalassistant。"roofistherethatthishasanythingtodowiththem?"

&inalmostbrokehisbamboostick>

"Proof!"hecried。"GoodGod!themanislookingforproof!Why，ofcourse，thecesaretwehassomethingtodowiththem。Butwhatelsewedo?Don'tyouseewemusteitherfollowonewildpossibilityohometobed?"Hebangedhiswayi，followedbyhispanions，andtheyweresooalatelualittletable，ahestarofsmashedglassfromtheiitwasveryihemeventhen。

"Gotyourwindowbroke;saidValentierashepaidthebill。

"Yes，sir，"aendant，bendingbusilyoverthege，towhitilyaddedaip。Thewaiterstraightehmildbutunmistakableanimation。

"Ah，yes，sir，"hesaid。"Veryoddthing，that，sir。"

"Iellusaboutit，"saidthedetectivewithcarelesscuriosity。

"Well，twogentsinbla，"saidthewaiter，"twoofthnparsonsthatarerunningabout。Theyhadadquietlittleluneofthempaidforitaheotherwasjustgoingouttojoinhimwhemychargeagainandfoundhe'dpaidmemorethaoomuch。'Here，'Isaystothechapwhowasofthedoor，'you'vepaidtoomuch。''Oh，'hesays，verycool，'havewe?''Yes，'Isays，andpicksupthebilltoshowhim。Well，thatwasaknock-out。"

"Whatdoyoumean?"askedhisior。

"Well，I'dhaveswornonseveI'dput4s。onthatbill。ButnowIsawI'dput14s。，asplainaspaint。"

"Well?"criedValentin，movingslowly，butwithbur;a;