df.theedge-第53部分

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　　'You've　been　ages　in　there；'　he　said；　but　tolerantly。　'Couldn't　you　undo　the　bed？'
　　'Managed　it　finally；'　I　said；　dry　mouthed。
　　'Right。　Well；　I　didn't　give　you　any　chocolates。'　He　handed　me　a　box　of　big　silver…wrapped　bonbons。　'Put　one　on　each　pillow。'
　　'Yes；　'I　said。
　　'Are　you　all　right？'　he　asked　curiously。
　　'Oh；　yes。　It　was　hot　in　the　dining　car。'
　　'True。'　He　went　back　towards　his　end　of　the　car；　unsuspicious。　Heart　still　thumping　I　returned　to　Filmer's　room；　retrieved　his　passport　from　under　the　pillow；　replaced　it　in　the　briefcase；　shut　the　locks；　twirled　the　bination　wheels；　realized　I　hadn't　noticed　where　they'd　been　set　when　I　came　in；　hoped　to　hell　that　Filmer　didn't　set　them　deliberately；　put　the　case　back　as　I'd　found　it；　straightened　the　bed　and　put　the　chocolate　tidily　where　it　belonged。
　　I　went　out　of　the　room；　closed　the　door　and　walked　two　paces　towards　the　next　door　along。
　　'Hey；　you；'　Filmer's　voice　said　angrily　from　close　behind　me。　'What　were　you　doing　in　there？'
　　I　turned。　Looked　innocent。。。　felt　stunned。
　　'Making　your　bed　ready　for　the　night；　sir。'
　　'Oh。'　He　shrugged；　accepting　it。
　　I　held　the　box　of　sweets　towards　him。　'Would　you　like　an　extra　chocolate；　sir？'
　　'No；　I　wouldn't；'　he　said；　and　went　abruptly　into　his　bedroom。
　　I　felt　weak。　I　waited　for　him　to　e　out　exploding　that　I'd　meddled　with　his　belongings。
　　Nothing。。。　nothing。。。　happened。
　　I　went　into　the　room　next　door；　folded　the　armchairs；　lowered　both　beds；　turned　back　the　sheets；　delivered　the　sweets。　All　automatic；　with　a　feeling　of　total　unreality。　I'd　twice　e　too　close　to　discovery。　I　had　no　great　taste；　I　found；　for　the　risks　of　a　spy。
　　I　was　disturbed；　in　a　way；　by　my　pusillanimity。　I　supposed　I'd　never　thought　much　about　courage：　had　taken　it　for　granted。。。　physical　courage；　or　physical　endurance；　anyway。　I'd　been　in　hard　places　in　the　past；　but　these　risks　were　different　and　more　difficult；　at　least　for　me。
　　I　did　the　third　bedroom；　by　which　time　the　sleeping…car　attendant；　much　faster；　had　almost　finished　the　rest。
　　'Thanks　a　lot；'　he　said　cheerfully。　'Appreciate　it。'
　　'Any　time。'
　　'Did　you　do　your　scene？'　he　asked。
　　I　nodded。　'It　went　fine。'
　　Filmer　came　out　of　his　room　and　called；　'Hey；　you。'
　　The　sleeping…car　attendant　went　towards　him。　'Yes；　sir？'
　　Filmer　spoke　to　him；　his　voice　obliterated；　as　far　as　I　was　concerned；　by　rail　noise；　and　went　back　into　his　room。
　　'He's　not　feeling　well；'　the　sleeping…car　attendant　reported；　going　back　towards　his　own　roomette。　'He　asked　for　something　to　settle　his　stomach。'
　　'Do　you　have　things　like　that？'
　　'Antacids；　sure。　A　few　simple　things。'
　　I　left　him　to　his　mission　and　went　back　to　the　dining　car；　where　Emil　greeted　me　with　raised　eyebrows　and　thrust　into　my　hands　a　trayful　of　small　plates；　each　bearing　a　square　of　paté　de　fóie　gras　with　a　thin　slice　of　black　truffle　on　top。
　　'We　missed　you。　You're　needed；'　Emil　said。　'The　crackers　for　the　pate　are　on　the　tables。'
　　'Right。'
　　I　went　ahead　with　the　delivery；　going　to　the　Redi…Hots'　table　first。　I　asked　Mrs　Redi…Hot　if　Mr　Filmer　would　be　ing　back：　should　we　put　his　pate　in　his　place？
　　She　looked　a　little　bewildered。　'He　didn't　say　if　he　was　ing　back。　He　went　out　in　a　hurry。。。　he　trampled　on　my　feet。'
　　'Leave　the　pate；'　Mr　Redi…Hot　said。　'If　he　doesn't　e　back；　I'll　eat　it。'
　　With　a　smile　I　put　some　pate　in　Filmer's　place　and　went　on　to　the　Youngs'　table；　where　Cumber　had　stopped　talking　about　Ezra　Gideon　but　looked　dour　and　preoccupied。　Rose　received　her　pate　with　a　smile　and　made　attempts　not　to　let　Cumber's　moroseness　spoil　the　occasion　for　the　Unwins。
　　Cathy　had　taken　pate　to　the　Lorrimores　who　sat　in　glum　silence　except　for　Xanthe　who　could　be　heard　saying　exasperatedly；　'This　is　supposed　to　be　a　party；　for　God's　sakes。'
　　For　the　rest　of　the　passengers；　that　was　true。　The　faces　were　bright；　the　smiles　came　easily；　the　euphoria　of　the　whole　journey　bonded　them　in　pleasure。　It　was　the　last　night　on　the　train　and　they　were　determined　to　make　it　a　good　one。
　　Nell　was　moving　down　the　aisle　handing　out　mementos：　silver　bracelets　made　of　tiny　gleaming　railway　carriages　for　the　women；　onyx　paperweights　set　with　miniature　engines　for　the　men。　Charming　gifts；　received　with　delight。　Xanthe　clipped　on　her　bracelet　immediately　and　forgot　to　look　sullen。
　　Emil　and　I　collected　the　wrapping…paper　debris。　'Miss　Richmond　might　have　waited　until　after　dinner；'　Emil　said。
　　We　served　and　cleared　the　rest　of　the　banquet：　a　salad　of　sliced　yellow　tomatoes　and　fresh　basil；　a　scoop　of　champagne　sorbet；　rare　roast　rib　of　beef　with　julienned　vegetables　and　finally　apple　snowballs　appearing　to　float　on　raspberry　puree。　About　six　people；　including　Rose　Young；　asked　how　to　make　the　apple　snowballs；　so　I　enquired　of　Angus
　　He　was　looking　languid　and　exhausted；　but　obliging。　'Tell　them　it's　sieved　apple　puree；　sugar；　whipped　cream；　whipped　white　of　egg。　bine　at　the　last　minute。　Very　simple　'
　　'Delicious；'　Rose　said；　when　I　relayed　the　information。　'Do　bring　out　the　chef　for　us　to　congratulate　him　'
　　Emil　brought　out　and　introduced　Angus　to　prolonged　applause。　Simone　sulked　determinedly　in　the　kitchen。　Rose　Young　said　they　should　all　thank　the　rest　of　the　dining…car　crew　who　had　worked　so　hard　throughout。　Everyone　clapped；　all　most　affecting。
　　Xanthe　clapped；　I　noticed。　I　had　great　hopes　for　Xanthe。
　　I　managed　to　stop　beside　Nell's　ear。
　　'Xanthe's　longing　to　have　a　good　time；'　I　said。　'Couldn't　you　rescue　her？'
　　'What's　the　matter　with　the　others''　she　asked；　frowning。
　　'Xanthe　might　tell　you；　if　she　knows。'
　　Nell　flashed　me　an　acutely　perceptive　glance。　'And　you　want　me　to　tell　you？'
　　'Yes；　please；　since　you　ask　'
　　'One　day　you'll　explain　all　this　'
　　'One　day　soon。'
　　I　went　back　to　the　kitchen　with　the　others　to　tackle　the　mountainous　dishwashing　and　to　eat　anything　left　over；　which　wasn't　much。　Angus　produced　a　bottle　of　Scotch　from　a　cupboard　and　drank　from　it　deeply　without　troubling　a　glass。　Apart　from　Simone；　who　had　disappeared　altogether；　there　was　very　good　feeling　in　the　kitchen。　I　wouldn't　have　missed　it；　I　thought；　for　a　fieldful　of　mushrooms。
　　When　everything　was　scoured；　polished　and　put　away；　we　left　Angus　unbelievably　beginning　to　make　breads　for　breakfast。　I　stood　in　the　lobby　for　a　while；　watching　the　dining…car　slowly　clear　as　everyone　drifted　off　to　the　dome　car　lounge　for　laughter　and　music。　The　Lorrimores　had　all　gone；　and　so　had　Nell　and　the　Unwins　and　the　Youngs　Out　of　habit　I　began　to　collect；　with　Oliver；　the　used　napkins　and　tablecloths；　ready　to　put　out　clean　ones　for　breakfast；　and　presently　Nell　came　back　and　sat　down　wearily　where　I　was　working。
　　'For　what　it's　worth；'　she　said；　'Xanthe　doesn't　know　what　has　thrown　her　parents　into　such　a　tizzy　She　says　it　can't　have　been　something　Mr　Filmer　said　in　the　lounge　before　cocktails　because　it　sounded　so　silly。'
　　'Did　she　tell　you　what　he　said？'
　　Nell　nodded　'Xanthe　said　Mr　Filmer　asked　her　father　if　he　would　let　him　have　Voting　Right；　and　her　father　said　he　wouldn't　part　with　the　horse　for　anything；　and　they　were　both　smiling；　Xanthe　said　Then　Mr　Filmer；　still　smiling；　said；　〃We'll　have　to　have　a　little　talk　about　cats　〃　And　that　was　all　Mr　Filmer　went　into　the　dining　car　Xanthe　said　she　asked　her　father　what　Mr　Filmer　meant；　and　he　said；　〃Don't　bother　me；　darling。　〃'　
　　Nell　shook　his　head　in　puzzlement。　'So　anyway；　Xanthe　is　now　having　a　good　time　in　the　dome…car　lounge　and　the　rest　of　the　family　have　gone　off　into　their　own　car；　and　I'm　deadly　tired；　if　you　want　to　know　'
　　'Go　to　bed；　then　'
　　The　actors　are　all　along　in　the　lounge　having　their　photos　taken；'　she　said；　dismissing　my　suggestion　as　frivolous。　'They　came　up　trumps　tonight；　didn't　they？'
　　'Brilliant；'　I　said
　　'Someone　was　asking　Zak　who　had　tried　to　kidnap　which　horse　at　Toronto　station　'
　　'What　did　he　say？'　I　asked；　amused。　It　was　the　loosest　of　the　loose　ends。
　　'He　said　it　had　seemed　a　good　idea　at　the　time　'　She　laughed。　'He　said　they'd　had　to　change　the　script　because　the　actor　who　was　supposed　to　play　the　part　of　the　kidnapper　had　broken　his　arm　and　couldn't　appear。　Everyone　seemed　to　be　satisfied。　They're　all　very　happy　with　the　way　it　ended。　People　are　kissing　Donna　and　Mavis。　Mavis　is　wearing　the　jewels。'　She　yawned　and　reflected。　'Mr　Filmer　didn't　have　any　dinner；　did　he？　Perhaps　I'd　better　go　and　see　if　he's　all　right。'
　　I　dissuaded　her。　Antacids　were　taking　care　of　it；　I　said。　What　one　could　give　a　man　for　a　sick　soul　was　another　matter。
　　From　this　point　of　view；　he　had　made　his　move　a　fraction　too　early；　I　thought。　If　he　hadn't　already　made　the　threat；　the　play　wouldn't　have　had　such　a　cataclysmic　effect　either　on　him　or　on　Mercer。　Mercer　might　have　been　warned；　as　I'd　intended；　might　have　been　made　to　think：　but　I　couldn't　have　foreseen　that　it　would　happen　the　way　it　had；　even　though　Filmer's　smirk　and　Mercer's　gloom　had　made　me　wonder。　Just　as　well；　perhaps；　that　I　hadn't　known　about　the　cats　when　I　invented　the　theft　of　the　jewels。　I　might　have　been　terribly　tempted　to