df.theedge-第22部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


nd；　looking　about　her　as　if　accustomed　to　people　leaping　up　to　help。
　　'Where　do　we　sit？'　she　asked；　not　quite　looking　at　me；　and　I　said；　'Anywhere；　madam。　Wherever　you　like。'
　　She　found　two　seats　free　not　far　from　the　Lorrimores　and；　putting　herself　on　one　chair　and　her　handbag　on　the　other；　said　with　bonhomie　to　the　elderly　couple　already　occupying　the　table；　'I'm　Daffodil　Quentin。　Isn't　this　fun？'　They　agreed　with　her　warmly。　They　knew　who　she　was：　she　was　yesterday's　winner。　They　started　talking　with　animation；　like　almost　everyone　else　in　the　car。　There　was　no　cool　period　here　of　waiting　for　the　ice　to　break。　Any　ice　left　after　the　previous　day's　racing　had　been　broken　conclusively　in　the　scenes　out　in　the　station；　and　the　party　had　already　gelled　and　was　in　full　swing。
　　Emil　beckoned　me　towards　the　kitchen　end；　and　I　went　up　there　into　the　small　lobby　with　a　serving　counter；　a　space　that　made　a　needed　gap　between　the　hot　glittering　galley　and　the　actual　dining　area。　The　lobby　led　on　the　left　to　the　kitchen　and　on　the　right　to　the　corridor　to　the　rest　of　the　train；　along　which　desultory　passengers　were　appearing；　swaying　gently　now　to　the　movement　of　gathering　speed。
　　Behind　the　counter；　Emil　was　opening　bottles　of　Pol　Roger。　Oliver　and　Cathy　were　still　taking　glasses　from　a　cardboard　container　and　arranging　them　on　small　trays。
　　'Would　you　mind　polishing　some　of　these　smeary　glasses？'　Emil　said　to　me；　pointing　at　a　trayful。　'It　would　be　of　great　help。'
　　'Just　tell　me；'　I　said。
　　'Polish　them；'　he　said。
　　'That's　better。'
　　They　all　laughed。　I　picked　up　a　cloth　and　began　polishing　the　tall　flutes；　and　Filmer　emerged　from　the　corridor　and　crossed　into　the　dining　room　without　glancing　our　way。
　　I　watched　him　walk　towards　Daffodil；　who　was　waving　to　him　vigorously；　and　take　the　place　saved　by　her　handbag。　He　had　his　back　to　me；　for　which　I　was　grateful。　Prepared　for　the　closeness　of　him；　I　was　still　unprepared；　still　missing　a　breath。　It　wouldn't　do；　I　thought。　It　was　time　for　a　bit　of　bottle；　nor　for　knocking　knees。
　　Every　seat　in　the　dining　car　filled　up　and　still　people　were　ing。　Nell；　arriving；　took　it　in　her　stride。　'Bound　to　happen。　All　the　actors　are　here。　Give　everyone　champagne。'　She　went　on　down　the　car；　clipboard　hugged　to　her　chest；　　answering　questions；　nodding　and　smiling；　keeping　the　class　in　order。
　　Emil　gave　me　a　tray　of　glasses。　'Put　four　on　each　table。　Oliver　will　follow　you　to　fill　them。　Start　at　the　far　end　and　work　back。'
　　'OK。'
　　Carrying　a　tray　of　glasses　would　have　been　easier　if　the　floor　had　been　stable　but　I　made　it　to　the　far　end　with　only　a　lurch　or　two　and　delivered　the　goods　as　required。　Three　or　four　people　without　seats　were　standing　at　the　far　dome　car　end；　including　the　actress　Angelica。　I　offered　them　all　glasses　as　well；　and　Angelica　took　one　and　went　on　bellyaching　to　all　around　her　about　how　Steven　had　let　her　down　and　she　should　never　have　trusted　the　louse；　and　it　was　a　tribute　to　her　acting　that　there　was　a　distinct　drawing　aside　of　skirts　in　the　pursed　mouths　of　those　around　her　who　were　fed　up　with　hearing　about　it。
　　Oliver；　on　my　heels；　was　delivering　them　solace　in　Pol　Roger's　golden　bubbles。
　　I　came　with　acute　awareness　to　the　table　where　Filmer　was　sitting　with　Daffodil　and；　careful　not　to　look　directly　at　either　of　them；　put　my　last　four　glasses　in　a　row　on　the　tablecloth。
　　At　once　Filmer　said；　'Where　have　I　seen　you　before？'
　　
　　
　　　Chapter　Seven
　　
　　About　fifty　conclusions　dashed　through　my　head；　all　of　them　disastrous。　I　had　been　so　sure　he　wouldn't　know　me。　Stupid；　arrogant　mistake。
　　'I　expect　it　was　when　we　were　over　in　Europe　and　went　to　the　Derby　Eve　dinner　in　London；'　the　elderly　woman　said。　'We　sat　at　the　head　table。。。。　We　were　guests　of　dear　Ezra　Gideon；　poor　man。'
　　I　moved　away　sending　wordless　prayers　of　thankfulness　to　anyone　out　there　listening。　Filmer　hadn't　even　glanced　at　me；　still　less　had　known　me。　His　head；　when　I'd　finally　looked　at　him；　was　turned　away　from　me　towards　his　panions；　as　was　Daffodil's　also。
　　Filmer's　own　thoughts　must　anyway　have　been　thrown　in　a　tangle。　He　was　himself　directly　responsible　for　Gideon's　suicide；　and　now　he　found　himself　sitting　with　Gideon's　friends。　Whether　or　not　he　felt　an　ounce　of　embarrassment　（probably　not）；　it　had　to　be　enough　to　make　him　unaware　of　waiters。
　　I　fetched　more　glasses　and　dealt　some　of　them　to　the　Lorrimores　who　were　an　oasis　of　silence　in　the　chattering　mob　and　paid　me　absolutely　no　attention：　and　from　then　on　I　felt　I　had　indeed　chosen　the　right　role　and　could　sustain　it　indefinitely。
　　When　everyone　was　served；　Zak　the　investigator　appeared　like　a　gale…force　wind　and　moved　the　mystery　along　through　Scene　Two；　disclosing　the　details　of　the　attempted　kidnap　of　one　of　the　horses　and　leaving　a　tantalizing　question　mark　in　the　shape　of　which　one？　To　the　amusement　of　the　audience；　he　quizzed　several　of　the　real　passenger　owners：　'Which　is　your　horse；　sir？　Did　you　say　Upper　Gumtree？'　He　consulted　a　list。　'Ah　yes。　You　must　be　Harvey　Unwin　from　Australia？　Do　you　have　any　reason　to　believe　that　your　horse　might　be　the　target　of　international　intrigue？'
　　It　was　skilfully　and　entertainingly　acted。　Mercer　Lorrimore　in　his　turn　and　with　a　smile　said　his　horse　was　called　Voting　Right；　and　no；　he'd　had　no　advance　notice　of　any　attack。　Bambi　smiled　thinly；　and　Sheridan　said　in　a　loud　voice　that　he　thought　the　whole　thing　was　stupid；　everyone　knew　there　hadn't　been　any　goddam　kidnap　attempt　and　why　didn't　Zak　stop　messing　around　and　piss　off。
　　Into　a　gasping　horrified　silence　while　Mercer　struggled　for　words；　Zak　smiled　brilliantly　and　said；　'Is　it　indigestion？　We'll　get　you　some　tablets；'　and　he　patted　Sheridan　passionately　on　the　shoulder。
　　It　brought　the　house；　or　rather　the　train；　down。　People　laughed　and　applauded　and　Sheridan　looked　truly　murderous。
　　'Now；　Sparrowgrass；'　Zak　said；　consulting　his　list　and　very　smoothly　carrying　on；　'who　owns　Sparrowgrass？'
　　The　elderly　gentleman　sitting　with　Filmer　said；　'I　do。　My　wife　and　I。'
　　'So　you　are　Mr　and　Mrs　Young？　Any　relation　to　Brigham？　No？　Never　mind。　Isn't　it　true　that　someone　tried　to　burn　down　the　barn　your　Sparrowgrass　was　stabled　in　a　month　ago？　Could　the　two　attacks　be　linked；　would　you　say？'
　　The　Youngs　looked　astounded。　'How　ever　did　you　know　that？'
　　'We　have　our　sources；'　Zak　said　loftily；　and　told　me　afterwards　his　source　was　the　Daily　Racing　Form；　busily　read　recently　for　background　help　with　his　story。　It　impressed　the　passengers　most　satisfactorily。
　　'I'm　sure　no　one's　trying　to　kidnap　my　horse；'　Young　said；　but　with　a　note　of　doubt　in　his　voice　that　was　a　triumph　for　Zak。
　　'Let's　hope　not；'　he　said。　'And　finally；　who　owns　Calculator？'
　　The　actors　Walter　and　Mavis　Bricknell　put　up　their　hands　in　agitation。　'We　do。　What's　wrong　with　him？　We　must　go　at　once　to　make　sure。　The　whole　thing's　most　upsetting。　Have　you　proper　guards　now　looking　after　the　horses？'
　　'Calm　down；　sir；　calm　down；　madam；'　Zak　said　as　to　children。　'Merry　&　Co　have　a　special　horsemaster　looking　after　them。　They　will　all　be　safe　from　now　on。'
　　He　concluded　the　scene　by　saying　that　we　would　soon　be　stopping　at　Newmarket；　but　that　British　owners　shouldn't　get　off　the　train　as　they　would　find　no　races　there。　（Laughter。　）　Lunch　was　now　on　its　way；　he　added；　and　he　hoped　everyone　would　return　for　drinks　at　five…thirty　when　there　would　be　Interesting　Developments　as　per　their　printed　programmes。　The　passengers　clapped　very　loudly；　to　encourage　him。　Zak　waved；　retreated　and　set　off　down　the　corridor；　flat…footed　almost　at　once　after　his　bounce　in　the　dining　car；　and　already　with　drooping　shoulders　consulting　his　notebook　about　what　he　needed　to　do　next。　How　often；　I　wondered；　had　he　had　to　deal　with　the　likes　of　Sheridan？　From　his　demeanour；　often　enough。
　　Emil　told　me　to　collect　the　champagne　glasses；　pour　the　water　and　put　a　pot　of　breadsticks　on　each　table。　He　himself　was　opening　wine。　Oliver　and　Cathy　began　bringing　plates　of　smoked　salmon　and　bowls　of　vichyssoise　soup　on　trays　from　the　kitchen　and　offering　a　choice。
　　The　seating　problem　more　or