75 лучших рассказов / 75 Best Short Stories

The nervous excitement seemed to have driven away my incipient attack of sickness, for I was able to stand up and lower myself from the boat without experiencing any return of it. I staggered along the deck with the intention of descending into the cabin and finding how my acquaintances of the morning were occupying themselves. Just as I had my hand on the companion-rail, I was astonished by receiving a hearty slap on the back, which nearly shot me down the steps with more haste than dignity.

�Is that you, Hammond?’ said a voice which I seemed to recognise.

�God bless me,’ I said as I turned round, �it can’t be Dick Merton! Why, how are you, old man?’

This was an unexpected piece of luck in the midst of my perplexities. Dick was just the man I wanted; kindly and shrewd in his nature, and prompt in his actions, I should have no difficulty in telling him my suspicions, and could rely upon his sound sense to point out the best course to pursue. Since I was a little lad in the second form at Harrow, Dick had been my adviser and protector.

�Hullo!’ he said, in his kindly way, �what’s put you about, Hammond? You look as white as a sheet. Mal de mer[161 - mal de mer = seasickness (French)], eh?’

�No, not that altogether,’ said I. �Walk up and down with me, Dick; I want to speak to you. Give me your arm.’

Supporting myself on Dick’s stalwart frame, I tottered along by his side; but it was some time before I could muster resolution to speak.

�Have a cigar,’ said he, breaking the silence.

�No, thanks,’ said I. �Dick, we shall all be corpses tonight.’

�That’s no reason against your having a cigar now,’ said Dick, in his cool way, but looking hard at me from under his shaggy eyebrows as he spoke. He evidently thought that my intellect was a little gone.

�No,’ I continued; �it’s no laughing matter, and I speak in sober earnest, I assure you. I have discovered an infamous conspiracy, Dick, to destroy this ship and every soul that is in her;’ and I then proceeded systematically, and in order, to lay before him the chain of evidence which I had collected.

To my astonishment he burst into a hearty fit of laughter.

�I’d be frightened,’ he said, �if any fellow but you had told me as much.