the lost house(ʧ×ٵķ¿×Ó)-µÚ13ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
from¡¡excitement£»¡¡not¡¡from¡¡fear¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡did¡¡I¡¡tell¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡whispered¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡IS¡¡madquite¡¡mad£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Ford¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bullet¡hole¡¡in¡¡the¡¡panel¡¡of¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡on¡¡a¡¡line¡¡
with¡¡his¡¡heart¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Miss¡¡Dale£»¡¡her¡¡shoulder¡¡was¡¡on¡¡a¡¡level¡¡with¡¡
his¡¡own£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡following¡¡his¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨In¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡case¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡does¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡again£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡Ford£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨we¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡
comfortable¡¡sitting¡¡down¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡their¡¡shoulders¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡the¡¡two¡¡young¡¡people¡¡sank¡¡to¡¡the¡¡
floor¡£¡¡The¡¡position¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡appeal¡¡to¡¡them¡¡as¡¡humorous£»¡¡and£»¡¡when¡¡their¡¡
eyes¡¡met£»¡¡they¡¡smiled¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨To¡¡a¡¡spectator£»¡¨¡¡whispered¡¡Ford¡¡encouragingly£»¡¡¡¨we¡¡MIGHT¡¡appear¡¡
to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡getting¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡worst¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡matter¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡fact£»¡¡¡¡¡¡every¡¡¡¡¡¡minute¡¡
Cuthbert¡¡does¡¡not¡¡come¡¡means¡¡that¡¡the¡¡next¡¡minute¡¡may¡¡bring¡¡him¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡don't¡¡believe¡¡he¡¡was¡¡hurt£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡girl¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡Ford¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡believe¡¡¡¡¡¡Prothero¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡believe¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡
may¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡fight¡£¡¡But¡¡you¡¡heard¡¡what¡¡Pearsall¡¡said£º¡¡'The¡¡man¡¡outside¡¡
will¡¡tell¡£'¡¡If¡¡Cuthbert's¡¡in¡¡a¡¡position¡¡to¡¡tell£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡not¡¡down¡¡an¡¡area¡¡with¡¡a¡¡
knife¡¡in¡¡him¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡interrupted¡¡by¡¡a¡¡faint¡¡report¡¡from¡¡the¡¡lowest¡¡floor£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡
the¡¡door¡¡to¡¡the¡¡street¡¡had¡¡been¡¡sharply¡¡slammed¡£¡¡Miss¡¡Dale¡¡showed¡¡that¡¡
she¡¡also¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡it¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨My¡¡uncle£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨making¡¡his¡¡escape¡¡£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡may¡¡be£»¡¨¡¡Ford¡¡answered¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡report¡¡did¡¡not¡¡suggest¡¡to¡¡him¡¡the¡¡slamming¡¡of¡¡a¡¡door£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡39¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡40¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Lost¡¡House¡¡
no¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡saying¡¡so¡¡to¡¡the¡¡girl¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡his¡¡fingers¡¡locked¡¡across¡¡his¡¡knees£»¡¡Ford¡¡was¡¡leaning¡¡forward£»¡¡his¡¡
eyes¡¡¡¡¡¡frowning£»¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡lips¡¡¡¡¡¡tightly¡¡¡¡¡¡shut¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡side¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡girl¡¡¡¡¡¡regarded¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡
covertly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡¡¡¡¡broad¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡shoulders£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡almost¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡touching¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡hers£»¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡strong¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡jaw¡¡
projecting¡¡aggressively£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡alert£»¡¡observant¡¡eyes¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡confidence¡£¡¡
For¡¡three¡¡weeks¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡making¡¡a¡¡fight¡¡single¡handed¡£¡¡But¡¡she¡¡was¡¡
now¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡cease¡¡struggling¡¡and¡¡relax¡£¡¡Quite¡¡happily¡¡she¡¡placed¡¡herself¡¡
and¡¡her¡¡safety¡¡in¡¡the¡¡keeping¡¡of¡¡a¡¡stranger¡£¡¡Half¡¡to¡¡herself£»¡¡half¡¡to¡¡the¡¡man£»¡¡
she¡¡murmured£º¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡like¡¡'The¡¡Sieur¡¡de¡¡Maletroit's¡¡Door¡£¡¨'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Without¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡her£»¡¡Ford¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡¡and¡¡smiled¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No¡¡¡¡¡¡such¡¡¡¡¡¡luck£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡corrected¡¡¡¡¡¡grimly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡given¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
choice¡£¡¡The¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡was¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡marry¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡he¡¡could¡¡have¡¡walked¡¡
out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room¡¡free¡£¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡recall¡¡Prothero's¡¡saying¡¡I¡¡can¡¡escape¡¡death¡¡
by¡¡any¡¡such¡¡charming¡¡alternative¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡girl¡¡interrupted¡¡quickly¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨you¡¡are¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡like¡¡that¡¡young¡¡man¡£¡¡He¡¡stumbled¡¡in¡¡
by¡¡chance¡£¡¡You¡¡came¡¡on¡¡purpose¡¡to¡¡help¡¡me¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡fine£»¡¡unselfish¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡¡not£»¡¨¡¡returned¡¡Ford¡£¡¡¡¨My¡¡motive¡¡was¡¡absolutely¡¡selfish¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡
not¡¡to¡¡help¡¡you¡¡I¡¡came£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡about¡¡it¡¡later¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡my¡¡business¡¡
to¡¡do¡¡that¡£¡¡And¡¡before¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡you£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡all¡¡in¡¡the¡¡day's¡¡work¡£¡¡But¡¡after¡¡I¡¡
saw¡¡you¡¡it¡¡was¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡a¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡day's¡¡work£»¡¡it¡¡became¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡a¡¡
life¡¡time¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡girl¡¡at¡¡his¡¡side¡¡laughed¡¡softly¡¡and¡¡lightly¡£¡¡¡¨A¡¡lifetime¡¡is¡¡not¡¡long£»¡¨¡¡
she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨when¡¡you¡¡are¡¡locked¡¡in¡¡a¡¡room¡¡and¡¡a¡¡madman¡¡is¡¡shooting¡¡at¡¡you¡£¡¡
It¡¡may¡¡last¡¡only¡¡an¡¡hour¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Whether¡¡it¡¡lasts¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡or¡¡many¡¡years£»¡¡said¡¡Ford£»¡¡¡¨it¡¡can¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡me¡¡
now¡¡only¡¡one¡¡thing¡¨¡¡He¡¡turned¡¡quickly¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡in¡¡her¡¡face¡¡boldly¡¡
and¡¡steadily£º¡¡¡¨You£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡girl¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡avoid¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡eyes£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡returned¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡glance¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡
steady¡¡as¡¡his¡¡own¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡are¡¡an¡¡amusing¡¡person£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡feel¡¡it¡¡
is¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡up¡¡my¡¡courage¡¡with¡¡pretty¡¡speeches£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡made¡¡no¡¡pretty¡¡speech£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Ford¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡proclaimed¡¡a¡¡fact¡£¡¡You¡¡are¡¡the¡¡
most¡¡charming¡¡person¡¡that¡¡ever¡¡came¡¡into¡¡my¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡whether¡¡Prothero¡¡
shoots¡¡¡¡¡¡us¡¡¡¡¡¡up£»¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡whether¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡live¡¡to¡¡get¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡God's¡¡¡¡¡¡country£»¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡
never¡¡leave¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡40¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡41¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Lost¡¡House¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡girl¡¡¡¡pretended¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡consider¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡speech¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡critically¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡
almost¡¡a¡¡compliment£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡intelligent£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡you¡¡know¡¡
nothing¡¡of¡¡meit¡¡is¡¡merely¡¡impertinent¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡know¡¡this¡¡much¡¡of¡¡you£»¡¡¡¨¡¡returned¡¡Ford£»¡¡calmly£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡know¡¡you¡¡are¡¡
fine¡¡and¡¡generous£»¡¡for¡¡your¡¡first¡¡speech¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡your¡¡own¡¡danger£»¡¡
was¡¡for¡¡my¡¡safety¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡you¡¡are¡¡brave£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡see¡¡you¡¡now¡¡facing¡¡death¡¡
without¡¡dismay¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡again¡¡suddenly¡¡halted¡¡by£»¡¡two¡¡sharp¡¡reports¡£¡¡They¡¡came¡¡from¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡room¡¡¡¡¡¡directly¡¡¡¡¡¡below¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡longer¡¡¡¡¡¡possible¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡pretend¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
misinterpret¡¡their¡¡significance¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Prothero£¡¡¨¡¡exclaimed¡¡Ford£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡his¡¡pistol£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡waited¡¡breathlessly¡¡for¡¡what¡¡might¡¡follow£º¡¡an¡¡outcry£»¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡
of¡¡a¡¡body¡¡falling£»¡¡a¡¡third¡¡pistol¡shot¡£¡¡But¡¡throughout¡¡the¡¡house¡¡there¡¡was¡¡
silence¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡you¡¡really¡¡think¡¡we¡¡are¡¡in¡¡such¡¡danger£»¡¨¡¡declared¡¡Miss¡¡Dale£»¡¡¡¨we¡¡
are¡¡wasting¡¡time£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡NOT¡¡¡¡¡¡wasting¡¡¡¡¡¡time£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡protested¡¡¡¡¡¡Ford£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨we¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡really¡¡¡¡¡¡gaining¡¡
time£»¡¡for¡¡each¡¡minute¡¡Cuthbert¡¡and¡¡the¡¡police¡¡are¡¡drawing¡¡nearer£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡
move¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡invites¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡bullet¡£¡¡And£»¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡importance£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
went¡¡on¡¡quickly£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡her¡¡mind¡¡from¡¡the¡¡¡¡mysterious¡¡pistol¡¡¡
shots£»¡¡¡¨should¡¡we¡¡get¡¡out¡¡of¡¡this¡¡alive£»¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡already¡¡have¡¡said¡¡what¡¡under¡¡
ordinary¡¡conditions¡¡I¡¡might¡¡not¡¡have¡¡found¡¡the¡¡courage¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡in¡¡many¡¡
months¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡waited¡¡as¡¡though¡¡hopeful¡¡of¡¡a¡¡reply£»¡¡but¡¡Miss¡¡Dale¡¡remained¡¡
silent¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨They¡¡¡¡say£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡continued¡¡¡¡¡¡Ford£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨when¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡drowning¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡whole¡¡
life¡¡passes¡¡in¡¡review¡£¡¡We¡¡are¡¡drowning£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡I¡¡find¡¡I¡¡can¡¡see¡¡into¡¡the¡¡
past¡¡no¡¡further¡¡than¡¡the¡¡last¡¡half¡hour¡£¡¡I¡¡find¡¡life¡¡began¡¡only¡¡then£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡
looked¡¡through¡¡the¡¡bars¡¡of¡¡that¡¡window¡¡and¡¡found¡¡YOU£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡palm¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡hand¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡girl¡¡¡¡¡¡struck¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡floor¡¡¡¡¡¡sharply¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨This¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡
neither¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡exclaimed£»¡¡¡¨nor¡¡the¡¡place¡¡to¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡choose¡¡the¡¡place£»¡¨¡¡Ford¡¡pointed¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡¡forced¡¡upon¡¡me¡¡
with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡gun¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡TIME¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡excellent¡£¡¡At¡¡¡¡¡¡such¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡speaks¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡
what¡¡is¡¡true¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡¡¡¡¡certainly¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡strange¡¡¡¡¡¡sense¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡humor£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡said£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨but¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡
you¡¡are¡¡risking¡¡your¡¡life¡¡to¡¡help¡¡me£»¡¡how¡¡can¡¡I¡¡be¡¡angry£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡41¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡42¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Lost¡¡House¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Of¡¡¡¡¡¡course¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡can't£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡Ford¡¡¡¡¡¡agreed¡¡¡¡¡¡heartily£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨you¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡
conventional¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡I¡¡AM¡¡conventional£¡¡¨¡¡protested¡¡Miss¡¡Dale¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡USED¡¡
to¡¡¡¡¡¡having¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡¡¡¡¡men¡¡¡¡¡¡tell¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡'come¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡stay'¡¡
certainly¡¡not¡¡young¡¡men¡¡who¡¡come¡¡into¡¡my¡¡life¡¡by¡¡way¡¡of¡¡a¡¡trap¡door£»¡¡and¡¡
without¡¡an¡¡introduction£»¡¡without¡¡a¡¡name£»¡¡without¡¡even¡¡a¡¡hat£¡¡¡It's¡¡absurd£¡¡¡
It's¡¡not¡¡real£¡¡¡It's¡¡a¡¡nightmare£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡¡¡¡¡whole¡¡¡¡¡¡situation¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡absurd£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡Ford¡¡¡¡¡¡declared¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Here¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
heart¡¡of¡¡London£»¡¡surrounded¡¡by¡¡telephones£»¡¡taxicabs£»¡¡policeat¡¡least£»¡¡hope¡¡
we¡¡are¡¡surrounded¡¡by¡¡police¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡we¡¡are¡¡crawling¡¡around¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡on¡¡
our¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡knees¡¡dodging¡¡bullets¡£¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡it¡¡were¡¡a¡¡nightmare¡£¡¡But£»¡¡as¡¡
it's¡¡not¡¨he¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡¨I¡¡think¡¡I'll¡¡try¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡interrupted¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡sharp¡¡¡¡¡¡blow¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡door¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡voice¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
Prothero¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You£»¡¡navy¡¡officer£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡panted¡£¡¡¡¨Come¡¡to¡¡the¡¡door£¡¡¡Stand¡¡close¡¡to¡¡it¡¡so¡¡
that¡¡I¡¡needn't¡¡shout¡£¡¡Come£»¡¡quick£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Ford¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡answer¡£¡¡¡¡Motioning¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Miss¡¡¡¡¡¡Dale¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡remain¡¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡
was£»¡¡he¡¡ran¡¡noiselessly¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bed£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡mattress¡¡lifted¡¡one¡¡
of¡¡the¡¡iron¡¡bars¡¡upon¡¡which¡¡it¡¡rested¡£¡¡Grasping¡¡it¡¡at¡¡one¡¡end£»¡¡he¡¡swung¡¡the¡¡
bar¡¡¡¡¡¡swiftly¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡tests¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡weight¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡