df.theedge-第36部分

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e　stables。
　　The　Clubhouse；　from　where　diners　could　watch　the　sport；　took　up　one　whole　floor　of　the　grandstand；　glassed　in　along　its　whole　length　to　preserve　summer　indoors。　I　decided　not　to　go　in　there　on　the　grounds　that　Tommy　would　not；　and　Tommy　off　duty　in　Tommy's　off…duty　clothes　was　what　I　most　definitely　wanted　to　be　at　that　moment。　I　made　some　Tommy…sized　bets　and　ate　very　well　in　the　（literally）　below…stairs　bar；　and　in　general　walked　around；　race…card　in　hand；　binoculars　around　neck；　exactly　as　usual。
　　The　daylight　faded　almost　imperceptibly　into　night；　electricity　taking　over　the　sun's　job　smoothly。　By　seven；　when　the　first　race　was　run；　it　was　under　floodlighting；　the　jockeys'　colours　brilliant　against　the　backdrop　of　night。
　　There　were　a　lot　of　half…familiar　faces　in　the　crowds；　the　enthusiastic　racegoers　from　the　train。　The　only　one　of　them　that　I　was　interested　in；　though；　was　either　extremely　elusive；　or　not　there。　All　the　techniques　I　knew　of　finding　people　were　to　no　avail：　the　man　with　his　gaunt　face；　grey　hair　and　fur…collared　Parka　was　more　invisible　than　myself。
　　I　did　see　Nell。
　　In　her　plain　blue　suit　she　came　down　from　the　Clubhouse　with　two　of　the　owners　who　seemed　to　want　to　be　near　the　horses　at　ground　level。　I　drifted　after　the　three　of　them　to　watch　the　runners　e　out　for　the　third　race　and　wasn't　far　behind　them　when　they　walked　right　down　to　the　rails　to　see　the　contest　from　the　closest　possible　quarters。　When　it　was　over；　the　owners　turned　towards　the　stands　talking　animatedly　about　the　result；　and　I　contrived　to　be　where　Nell　would　see　me；　with　any　luck；　making　a　small　waving　motion　with　my　race…card。
　　She　noticed　the　card；　noticed　me　with　widening　eyes；　and　in　a　short　while　detached　herself　from　the　owners　and　stood　and　waited。　When　without　haste　I　reached　her　side；　she　gave　me　a　sideways　grin。
　　'Aren't　you　one　of　the　waiters　from　the　train？'　she　said。
　　'I　sure　am。'
　　'Did　you　find　somewhere　to　sleep？'
　　'Yes；　thank　you。　How's　the　Westin？'
　　She　was　staying　with　the　owners；　their　shepherd；　their　smoother…of…the…way；　their　information　booth。
　　'The　hotel's　all　right；　but　someone　should　strangle　that　rich。。。　that　arrogant。。。　that　insufferable　Sheridan。'　Disgust　vibrated　in　her　voice　as　she　suddenly　let　go　of　some　clearly　banked…up　and　held…back　emotion。　'He's　unbearable。　He's　spoiling　it　for　others。　They　all　paid　a　fortune　to　e　on　this　trip　and　they're　entitled　not　to　be　upset。'
　　'Did　something　happen？'　I　asked。
　　'Yes；　at　breakfast。'　The　memory　displeased　her。　'Zak　put　on　the　next　scene　of　the　mystery　and　Sheridan　shouted　him　down　three　times。　I　went　over　to　Sheridan　to　ask　him　to　be　quiet　and　he　grabbed　my　wrist　and　tried　to　pull　me　on　to　his　lap；　and　I　overbalanced　and　fell　and　hit　the　table　hard　where　he　was　sitting；　and　I　caught　the　cloth　somehow　and　pulled　it　with　me　and　everything　on　it　landed　on　the　floor。　So　you　can　imagine　the　fuss。　I　was　on　my　knees；　there　was　orange　juice　and　broken　plates　and　food　and　coffee　everywhere　and　Sheridan　was　saying　loudly　it　was　my　fault　for　being　clumsy。'
　　'And　I　can　imagine；'　I　said；　seeing　resignation　more　than　indignation　now　in　her　face；　'that　Bambi　Lorrimore　took　no　notice；　that　Mercer　hurried　to　help　you　up　and　apologize；　and　Mrs　Young　enquired　if　you　were　hurt。'
　　She　looked　at　me　in　amazement。　'You　were　there！'
　　'No。　It　just　figures。'
　　'Well。。。　that's　exactly　what　happened。　A　waiter　came　to　deal　with　the　mess；　and　while　he　was　kneeling　there　Sheridan　said　loudly　that　the　waiter　was　sneering　at　him　and　he　would　get　him　fired。'　She　paused。　'And　I　suppose　you　can　tell　me　again　what　happened　next？'
　　She　was　teasing；　but　I　answered；　'I'd　guess　Mercer　assured　the　waiter　he　wouldn't　be　fired　and　took　him　aside　and　gave　him　twenty　dollars。'
　　Her　mouth　opened。　'You　were　there。'
　　I　shook　my　head。　'He　gave　me　twenty　dollars　when　Sheridan　shoved　me　the　other　evening。'
　　'But　that's　awful。'
　　'Mercer's　a　nice　man　caught　in　an　endless　dilemma。　Bambi's　closed　her　mind　to　it。　Xanthe　seeks　fort　somewhere　else。'
　　Nell　thought　it　over　and　delivered　her　judgement；　which　was　much　like　my　own。
　　'One　day；　beastly　Sheridan　will　do　something　his　father　can't　pay　for。'
　　'He's　a　very　rich　man；'　I　said。
　　
　　
　　
　　　Chapter　Twelve
　　
　　'It's　nothing　to　do　with　his　birthday；　nor　with　his　telephone　numbers；　nor　addresses；　past　or　present；　nor　his　bank　accounts；　nor　his　national　insurance。'
　　Mrs　Baudelaire's　light　voice　in　my　ear；　passing　on　the　bad　news　on　Wednesday　morning。
　　'Val　Catto　is　working　on　your　quarry's　credit　card　numbers　now；'　she　said。　'And　he　wants　to　know　why　he's　doing　all　this　research。　He　says　he's　looked　up　your　quarry's　divorced　wife's　personal　numbers　also　and　he　cannot　see　one…five…one　anywhere；　with　or　without　three　unknown　digits　in　front。'
　　I　signed　audibly；　disappointed。
　　'How　important　is　it？'　she　asked。
　　'It's　impossible　to　tell。　It　could　be　pointless；　it　could　solve　all　our　problems。　Empty　box　or　jackpot；　or　anywhere　in　between。　Please　would　you　tell　the　Brigadier　that　one…five…one　is　the　bination　that　unlocks　the　right…hand　latch　of　a　black　crocodile　briefcase。　We　have　three　unknowns　on　the　left。'
　　'Good　gracious；'　she　said。
　　'Could　you　say　I　would　appreciate　his　instructions？'
　　'I　could；　young　man。　Why　don't　you　just　steal　the　briefcase　and　take　your　time？'
　　I　laughed。　'I've　thought　of　that；　but　I'd　better　not。　Ornot　yet；　anyway。　If　the　numbers　have　any　logic；　this　way　is　safest。'
　　'Val　would　presumably　prefer　you　didn't　get　arrested。'
　　Or　murdered；　perhaps；　I　thought。
　　'I　would　say；'　I　agreed；　'that　getting　myself　arrested　would　lose　me　my　job。'
　　'You'd　no　longer　be　invisible？'
　　'Quite　right。'
　　'And　I'm　afraid；'　she　said；　'that　I　have　some　more　negative　news　for　you。'
　　'What　is　it？'　I　asked。
　　'Bill　says　the　samples　of　water　you　sent　him　were　just　that；　water。'
　　'That's　good　news；　actually。'
　　'Oh？　Well；　good；　then。'
　　I　reflected。　'I　think　I'll　phone　you　again　this　evening　before　we　leave　Winnipeg。'
　　'Yes；　do；'　she　agreed。　'The　further　west　you　go　the　bigger　the　time　change　and　the　longer　it　takes　to　get　replies　from　Val　Catto。'
　　'Mm。'
　　Mrs　Baudelaire　couldn't　ring　the　Brigadier　in　the　middle　of　his　night；　nor　in　the　middle　of　hers。　Toronto；　where　she　lived；　was　five　hours　behind　London；　Winnipeg　six；　Vancouver　eight。　At　breakfast　time　in　Vancouver；　London's　office　workers　began　travelling　home。　Confusing　for　carrier　pigeons。
　　'Good　luck；'　she　said。　'I'll　talk　to　you　later。'
　　I　was　used　by　now　to　her　abrupt　disappearances。　I　put　my　receiver　down；　hearing　only　silence　on　the　line；　and　wondered　what　she　looked　like；　and　how　deeply　she　was　ill。　I　would　go　back　to　Toronto；　I　thought；　and　see　her。
　　I　sped　again　on　the　bus　to　the　races　and　found　that　overnight　Assiniboia　Downs　had　sprouted　all　the　ballyhoo　of　Woodbine；　T…shirt　stalls；　banners　and　besashed　bosoms　Supporting　Canadian　Racing　included。
　　I　again　spent　most　of　the　afternoon　looking　for　gaunt…face；　ing　in　the　end　to　the　conclusion　that　whatever　he　was　doing　on　the　train　he　wasn't　travelling　because　of　an　overpowering　interest　in　racing。　The　racegoers　from　the　train　were　on　the　whole　easily　identifiable　as　they　all　seemed　to　have　been　issued　with　large　red　and　white　rosettes　with　Race　Train　Passenger　emblazoned　on　them　in　gold　and　the　rosettes　proved　not　to　be　confined　to　those　in　the　front　half　of　the　train　because　I　came　across　Zak　wearing　one　too；　and　he　told　me　that　everyone　had　been　given　one；　the　owners　included；　and　where　was　mine。
　　I　didn't　know　about　them；　I　said。　Too　bad；　he　said；　because　they　entitled　everyone　to　free　entry；　free　race…cards　and　free　food。　They　were　gifts　from　the　racecourse；　he　said。　Nell　should　have　one　for　me；　he　thought。
　　I　asked　him　how　the　scene　from　the　mystery　had　fared　that　morning；　as　Nell　had　described　what　had　happened　the　day　before。
　　'A　lot　better　without　that　bastard　Sheridan。'
　　'Wasn't　he　there？'
　　'I　got　Nell　to　tell　his　father　that　if　Sheridan　came　to　breakfast　we　wouldn't　be　putting　on　our　scene；　and　it　did　the　trick。　No　Sheridan。'　He　grinned。　'No　Lorrimores　at　all；　in　fact。'　He　looked　around。　'But　they're　all　here；　Sheridan　included。　They　were　getting　out　of　a　stretch　limo　when　we　rolled　up　in　our　private　bus。　That's　where　we　were　given　these　rosettes；　on　the　bus。　How　did　you　get　here；　then？'
　　'On　a　public　bus。'
　　'Too　bad。'
　　His　batteries　were　running　at　half…speed；　neither　highly　charged　up　nor　flat。　Under　the　mop　of　curls　his　face；　without　the　emphasizing　make…up　he　wore　perpetually　on　the　train；　looked　younger　and　more　ordinary：　it　was　David　Flynn　who　was　at　the　races；　not　Zak。'Are　all　the　actors　here？　'　I　asked。
　　'Oh；　sure。　We　have　to　know　what　happens　here　today。　Have　to　be　able　to　talk　about　it　to　the　owners　tonight。　Don't　forget；　it's　a　racing　mystery；　after　all。'
　　I　thought　that　I　had　forgotten；　in　a　way。　The　real　mystery　that　I　was　engaged　in　tended　to　crowd　the　fiction　out。
　　'What　are　you　betting　on　in　our　race？　'　he　asked。　'I　suppose　Premiere　will　win。　What　do　you　think？'
　　'Upper　Gumtree