df.theedge-第39部分
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ment and goods； and then joined the actors in the last waiting bus。 The Mountie； I was interested to see； was among us； tall and imposing even with his scarlet and brass buttons tucked away in his bag。
George came last； carrying an attache case of papers and looking over his shoulder at the train as if wondering if he'd forgotten anything。 He sat in the seat across the aisle from me and said the cars would be backed into a siding for two days； the engine would be removed and used elsewhere； and there would be a security guard on duty。 In the siding； the carriages would be unheated and unlit and would e to life again only about an hour before we left on the day after tomorrow。 We'd been able to keep the same crew from coast to coast； he said； only because of the two rest breaks along the way。
The owners and some of the actors were staying in the Westin Hotel which had； Nell had told everyone during dinner； a ballroom and fort and an indoor pool on the roof。 There was a breakfast room set aside for the train party where a piece of the mystery would unravel each morning。 Apart from that； everyone was on their own： there were good shops； good restaurants and good racing。 Transport had been arranged to and from the racecourse。 We would all e back to reboard the train after the Jockey Club Race Train Stakes on Wednesday； and cocktails and dinner would be served as soon as we'd rolled out of the station。 The party； in good humour； applauded。
I had decided not to stay in the same hotel as any of the groups of owners； actors； racegoers or crew； and asked Nell if she knew of anywhere else。 A tall order； it seemed。
'We've put people almost everywhere；' she said doubtfully； 'but only a few actors will be at the Holiday Inn 。。。 why don't you try there？ Although actually。。。 there is one place we haven't booked anyone into； and that's the Sheraton。 But it's like the Westin…expensive。'
'Never mind； I'll find somewhere；' I said； and when the crew bus； after a short drive； stopped and disgorged its passengers； I took my grip and vanished on foot and； after asking directions； made a homing line to where no one else was staying。
In my buttoned…up grey VIA raincoat； I was unexceptional to the receptionists of the Sheraton： the only problem； they said； was that they were full。 It was late in the evening。 The whole city was full。
'An annexe？' I suggested。
Two of them shook their heads and consulted with each other in low voices。 Although they had no single rooms left； they said finally； they had had a late cancellation of a suite。 They looked doubtful。 I wouldn't be interested in that； they supposed。
'Yes； I would；' I said and gave them my American Express card with alacrity。 So Tommy the waiter carefully hung up his yellow waistcoat with its white lining and ordered some wine from room service and in a while after a long easing shower slept for eight solid hours and didn't dream about Filmer。
In the morning； I telephoned Mrs Baudelaire and listened again to the almost girlish voice on the wire。
'Messages for the invisible man；' she said cheerfully。 'Er 。。。 are you still invisible？'
'Mostly； yes； I think。'
'Bill says Val Catto would like to know if you are still invisible to the quarry。 Does that make sense to you？'
'It makes sense； and the answer is yes。'
'They're both anxious。'
'And not alone；' I said。 'Will you tell them the quarry has an ally on the train； travelling I think with the racegoers。 I've seen him once and will try to photograph him。'
'Goodness！'
'Also will you ask them whether certain numbers； which I'll tell you； have any significance in the quarry's life。'
'Intriguing；' she said。 'Fire away。'
'Well。。。 three numbers I don't know。 Three question marks； say。 Then one…five…one。 ''Three question marks； then one…five…one。 Right？'
'Right。 I know it's not his car's number plate； or not the car he usually travels in； but ask if it fits his birthday in any way； or his phone number； or anything at all they can think of。 I want to know what the first three digits are。'
'I'll ask Bill right away； when I've finished talking to you。 He gave me some answers to give you about your questions yesterday evening。'
'Great。'
'The answers are that Mr and Mrs Young who own Sparrowgrass are frequent and wele visitors to England and are entertained by the Jockey Club at many race meetings。 They were friends of Ezra Gideon。 Val Catto doesn't know if they know that Ezra Gideon sold two horses to Mr J。 A。 Filmer。 Does that make sense？'
'Yes；' I said。
'I'm glad you understand what I'm talking about。 How about this one； then？' She paused for breath。 'Sheridan Lorrimore was sent down…expelled…from Cambridge University last May； amid some sort of hushed…up scandal。 Mercer Lorrimore was over in England at that time； and stayed and went racing at Newmarket in July； but the Jockey Club found him grimmer than his usual self and understood it was something to do with his son； although he didn't say what。 Val Catto is seeing what he can find out from Cambridge。'
'That's fine；' I said。
'Sheridan Lorrimore！' she said； sounding shocked。 'I hope it's not true。'
'Brace yourself；' I said dryly。
'Oh dear。'
'How well do you know him？' I asked。
'Hardly at all。 But it does no good； does it； for one of our golden families to hit the tabloids。'
I loved the expression； and remembered she'd owned a magazine。
'It demeans the whole country；' she went one。 'I just hope whatever it was will stay hushed up。'
'Whatever it was？'
'Yes；' she said firmly。 'For his family's sake。 For his mother's sake。 I know Bambi Lorrimore。 She's a proud woman。 She doesn't deserve to be disgraced by her son。'
I wasn't so sure about that： didn't know to what extent she was responsible for his behaviour。 But perhaps not much。 Perhaps no one deserved a son like Sheridan。 Perhaps people like Sheridan were born that way； as if without arms。
'Are you still there？' Mrs Baudelaire asked。
'I sure am。'
'Bill says the Lorrimores' private car got detached from the train on Sunday evening。 Is that really true？ There's a great fuss going on； isn't there？ It's been on the television news and it's all over the papers this morning。 Bill says it was apparently done by some lunatic for reasons unknown； but he wants to know if you have any information about it that he doesn't have。'
I told her what had happened： how Xanthe had casually nearly walked off into space。
'Tell Bill the quarry sat relaxed and unconcerned throughout both the incident and the enquiry held at Thunder Bay yesterday morning； and I'm certain he didn't plan the uncoupling。 I think he did plan something though； with his ally on the train； and I think Bill should see that they guard the train's horses very carefully out at the track。'
'I'll tell him。'
'Tell him there's a slight possibility that the horses' drinking water was tampered with on the train； before it got to Thunder Bay。 But I think that if it had been； the horses should have been showing distress by last night； which they weren't。 I can't check them this morning。 I supposed if there's anything wrong with them； Bill will know pretty soon。 Anyway； I took four samples of the drinking water which I will take to the races this evening。'
'Good heavens。'
'Tell Bill I'll get them to him somehow。 They'll be in a package with his name on it。'
'Let me write some of this down。 Don't go away。'
There was a quiet period while she put down the receiver and wrote her notes。 Then she came back on the line and faithfully repeated everything I'd told her； and everything I'd asked。
'Is that right？' she demanded； at the end。
'Perfect；' I said fervently。 'When in general is it a good time for me to phone you？ I don't like to disturb you at bad moments。'
'Phone any time。 I'll be here。 Have a good day。 Stay invisible。'
I laughed； and she'd gone off the line before I could ask her about her health。
A plimentary copy of a Winnipeg newspaper had been slipped under my sitting…room door。 I picked it up and checked on what news it gave of the train。 The story wasn't exactly all
