tommy and co[1].(托米和科)-第6节
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〃No；〃 communed Peter to himself aloud； 〃I don't honestly think there
can be any method； creditable or discreditable； that I haven't tried。〃
Peter flung the one…sided interview into the wastepaper…basket； and
slipping his notebook into his pocket； departed to drink tea with a lady
novelist； whose great desire； as stated in a postscript to her invitation；
was to avoid publicity； if possible。
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Tommy； as soon as Peter's back was turned； fished it out again。
An hour later in the fog around St。 James's Palace stood an Imp； clad
in patched trousers and a pepper…and…salt jacket turned up about the neck；
gazing with admiring eyes upon the sentry。
〃Now； then； young seventeen…and…sixpence the soot；〃 said the sentry；
〃what do you want？〃
〃Makes you a bit anxious； don't it；〃 suggested the Imp； 〃having a big
pot like him to look after？〃
〃Does get a bit on yer mind； if yer thinks about it；〃 agreed the sentry。
〃How do you find him to talk to； like？〃
〃Well；〃 said the sentry； bringing his right leg into action for the
purpose of relieving his left； 〃ain't 'ad much to do with 'im myself； not
person'ly； as yet。 Oh； 'e ain't a bad sort when yer know 'im。〃
〃That's his shake…down； ain't it？〃 asked the Imp； 〃where the lights
are。〃
〃That's it；〃 admitted sentry。 〃You ain't an Anarchist？ Tell me if
you are。〃
〃I'll let you know if I feel it coming on；〃 the Imp assured him。
Had the sentry been a man of swift and penetrating observation
which he wasn'the might have asked the question in more serious a
tone。 For he would have remarked that the Imp's black eyes were
resting lovingly upon a rain…water…pipe； giving to a skilful climber easy
access to the terrace underneath the Prince's windows。
〃I would like to see him；〃 said the Imp。
〃Friend o' yours？〃 asked the sentry。
〃Well； not exactly；〃 admitted the Imp。 〃But there； you know；
everybody's talking about him down our street。〃
〃Well； yer'll 'ave to be quick about it；〃 said the sentry。 'E's off to…
night。〃
Tommy's face fell。 〃I thought it wasn't till Friday morning。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the sentry； 〃that's what the papers say； is it？〃 The
sentry's voice took unconsciously the accent of those from whom no
secret is hid。 〃I'll tell yer what yer can do；〃 continued the sentry；
enjoying an unaccustomed sense of importance。 The sentry glanced
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left； then right。 〃'E's a slipping off all by 'imself down to Osborne by
the 6。40 from Waterloo。 Nobody knows it'cept； o' course； just a few
of us。 That's 'is way all over。 'E just 'ates… …〃
A footstep sounded down the corridor。 The sentry became
statuesque。
At Waterloo； Tommy inspected the 6。40 train。 Only one
compartment indicated possibilities； an extra large one at the end of the
coach next the guard's van。 It was labelled 〃Reserved；〃 and in the place
of the usual fittings was furnished with a table and four easy… chairs。
Having noticed its position； Tommy took a walk up the platform and
disappeared into the fog。
Twenty minutes later； Prince Blank stepped hurriedly across the
platform； unnoticed save by half a dozen obsequious officials； and
entered the compartment reserved for him。 The obsequious officials
bowed。 Prince Blank； in military fashion； raised his hand。 The 6。40
steamed out slowly。
Prince Blank； who was a stout gentleman； though he tried to disguise
the fact； seldom found himself alone。 When he did； he generally
indulged himself in a little healthy relaxation。 With two hours' run to
Southampton before him； free from all possibility of intrusion； Prince
Blank let loose the buttons of his powerfully built waistcoat； rested his
bald head on the top of his chair； stretched his great legs across another；
and closed his terrible； small eyes。
For an instant it seemed to Prince Blank that a draught had entered
into the carriage。 As； however； the sensation immediately passed away；
he did not trouble to wake up。 Then the Prince dreamed that somebody
was in the carriage with himwas sitting opposite to him。 This being an
annoying sort of dream； the Prince opened his eyes for the purpose of
dispelling it。 There was somebody sitting opposite to hima very
grimy little person； wiping blood off its face and hands with a dingy
handkerchief。 Had the Prince been a man capable of surprise； he would
have been surprised。
〃It's all right；〃 assured him Tommy。 〃I ain't here to do any harm。 I
ain't an Anarchist。〃
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The Prince； by a muscular effort； retired some four or five inches and
commenced to rebutton his waistcoat。
〃How did you get here？〃 asked the Prince。
〃'Twas a bigger job than I'd reckoned on；〃 admitted Tommy； seeking
a dry inch in the smeared handkerchief； and finding none。 〃But that
don't matter；〃 added Tommy cheerfully； 〃now I'm here。〃
〃If you do not wish me to hand you over to the police at
Southampton； you had better answer my questions；〃 remarked the Prince
drily。
Tommy was not afraid of princes； but in the lexicon of her harassed
youth 〃Police〃 had always been a word of dread。
〃I wanted to get at you。〃
〃I gather that。〃
〃There didn't seem any other way。 It's jolly difficult to get at you。
You're so jolly artful。〃
〃Tell me how you managed it。〃
〃There's a little bridge for signals just outside Waterloo。 I could see
that the train would have to pass under it。 So I climbed up and waited。
It being a foggy night； you see； nobody twigged me。 I say； you are
Prince Blank； ain't you？〃
〃I am Prince Blank。〃
〃Should have been mad if I'd landed the wrong man。〃
〃Go on。〃
〃I knew which was your carriageleastways； I guessed it； and as it
came along； I did a drop。〃 Tommy spread out her arms and legs to
illustrate the action。 〃The lamps； you know；〃 explained Tommy； still
dabbing at her face〃one of them caught me。〃
〃And from the roof？〃
〃Oh； well； it was easy after that。 There's an iron thing at the back；
and steps。 You've only got to walk downstairs and round the corner；
and there you are。 Bit of luck your other door not being locked。 I
hadn't thought of that。 Haven't got such a thing as a handkerchief about
you； have you？〃
The Prince drew one from his sleeve and passed it to her。 〃You
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mean to tell me； boy〃
〃Ain't a boy；〃 explained Tommy。 〃I'm a girl！〃
She said it sadly。 Deeming her new friends such as could be trusted；
Tommy had accepted their statement that she really was a girl。 But for
many a long year to come the thought of her lost manhood tinged her
voice with bitterness。
〃A girl！〃
Tommy nodded her head。
〃Umph！〃 said the Prince； 〃I have heard a good deal about the
English girl。 I was beginning to think it exaggerated。 Stand up。〃
Tommy obeyed。 It was not altogether
