登陆注册
15467200000033

第33章 CHAPTER EIGHT The Coming of the Black Stone(2)

After that I took a taxi and drove miles away up into North London. I walked back through fields and lines of villas and terraces and then slums and mean streets, and it took me pretty nearly two hours. All the while my restlessness was growing worse. I felt that great things, tremendous things, were happening or about to happen, and I, who was the cog-wheel of the whole business, was out of it. Royer would be landing at Dover, Sir Walter would be making plans with the few people in England who were in the secret, and somewhere in the darkness the Black Stone would be working. I felt the sense of danger and impending calamity, and I had the curious feeling, too, that I alone could avert it, alone could grapple with it. But Iwas out of the game now. How could it be otherwise? It was not likely that Cabinet Ministers and Admiralty Lords and Generals would admit me to their councils.

I actually began to wish that I could run up against one of my three enemies. That would lead to developments. I felt that I wanted enormously to have a vulgar scrap with those gentry, where I could hit out and flatten something. I was rapidly getting into a very bad temper.

I didn't feel like going back to my flat. That had to be faced some time, but as I still had sufficient money I thought I would put it off till next morning, and go to a hotel for the night.

My irritation lasted through dinner, which I had at a restaurant in Jermyn Street. I was no longer hungry, and let several courses pass untasted. I drank the best part of a bottle of Burgundy, but it did nothing to cheer me. An abominable restlessness had taken possession of me. Here was I, a very ordinary fellow, with no particular brains, and yet I was convinced that somehow I was needed to help this business through - that without me it would all go to blazes. I told myself it was sheer silly conceit, that four or five of the cleverest people living, with all the might of the British Empire at their back, had the job in hand. Yet I couldn't be convinced. It seemed as if a voice kept speaking in my ear, telling me to be up and doing, or I would never sleep again.

The upshot was that about half-past nine I made up my mind to go to Queen Anne's Gate. Very likely I would not be admitted, but it would ease my conscience to try.

I walked down Jermyn Street, and at the corner of Duke Street passed a group of young men. They were in evening dress, had been dining somewhere, and were going on to a music-hall. One of them was Mr Marmaduke jopley.

He saw me and stopped short.

'By God, the murderer!' he cried. 'Here, you fellows, hold him! That's Hannay, the man who did the Portland Place murder!' He gripped me by the arm, and the others crowded round. I wasn't looking for any trouble, but my ill-temper made me play the fool. A policeman came up, and I should have told him the truth, and, if he didn't believe it, demanded to betaken to Scotland Yard, or for that matter to the nearest police station. But a delay at that moment seemed to me unendurable, and the sight of Marmie's imbecile face was more than I could bear. I let out with my left, and had the satisfaction of seeing him measure his length in the gutter.

Then began an unholy row. They were all on me at once, and the policeman took me in the rear. I got in one or two good blows, for I think, with fair play, I could have licked the lot of them, but the policeman pinned me behind, and one of them got his fingers on my throat.

Through a black cloud of rage I heard the officer of the law asking what was the matter, and Marmie, between his broken teeth, declaring that I was Hannay the murderer.

'Oh, damn it all,' I cried, 'make the fellow shut up. I advise you to leave me alone, constable. Scotland Yard knows all about me, and you'll get a proper wigging if you interfere with me.'

'You've got to come along of me, young man,' said the policeman. 'I saw you strike that gentleman crool 'ard. You began it too, for he wasn't doing nothing. I seen you. Best go quietly or I'll have to fix you up.'

Exasperation and an overwhelming sense that at no cost must I delay gave me the strength of a bull elephant. I fairly wrenched the constable off his feet, floored the man who was gripping my collar, and set off at my best pace down Duke Street. I heard a whistle being blown, and the rush of men behind me.

I have a very fair turn of speed, and that night I had wings. In a jiffy I was in Pall Mall and had turned down towards St James's Park. I dodged the policeman at the Palace gates, dived through a press of carriages at the entrance to the Mall, and was making for the bridge before my pursuers had crossed the roadway. In the open ways of the Park I put on a spurt. Happily there were few people about and no one tried to stop me. I was staking all on getting to Queen Anne's Gate.

同类推荐
  • 地持义记

    地持义记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 小尔雅

    小尔雅

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 梵网经古迹记

    梵网经古迹记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说八佛名号经

    佛说八佛名号经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 脉学阐微

    脉学阐微

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 邪魅妖女的替身爱情

    邪魅妖女的替身爱情

    “老婆……我来了、卿儿~~”费尽心思他好不容易得到她,终于爬上了她的床,将她压在身下,突然感觉到腹下一硬、“佟——”他却被她踢落在地,一脸受伤的看着她。“我、我、”她扶额“我还是没有准备好,你还是回去睡书房吧!”(从暗黑到小虐,几番波折真相明了,甜宠随之上演,和月殇一起来看,冰冷的妖媚女子,如何应下伤害,和命运搏击,走上自己的爱情轨迹、)
  • 苍穹颠峰之旅

    苍穹颠峰之旅

    上古神魔大战时期,皇帝(轩辕大帝)战胜炎帝之后与蚩尤在涿鹿展开大战,蚩尤战死,皇帝胜利,当时蚩尤被称为魔之战神,刀枪不入,为什么会败于皇帝,后来皇帝无故失踪,这背后种种隐情到底是什么原因。本书讲述了上古神魔大战千年之后,人间新的一代战神诞生,从而一直被列为传说中的天神界,冥界也现身人间,这又跟千年之前蚩尤和皇帝有过怎样的关系呢?到底千年之后会有一个什么样的秘密被揭开,天、人、冥三界将陷入什么样的局面,请阅读本书,享受更多的人生乐趣。
  • 色迷心窍:霸上总统大人

    色迷心窍:霸上总统大人

    “哼,你家有个老板,能怎么样,我家有个总统大人,架炮轰死你。”“哎呦,你家有个总裁,不好意思,我家有个总统大人,弄垮你的公司。”“天妈呀,你家有个军长,吓死宝宝,我家有个总统大人,没收你军权。”正所谓官大一级压死人,米乐乐真是利用自家总统大人的官,在外惹是生非,欺男霸女。多行不义必自毙,一日,某总统大人找上房间。“乐乐,渴吗?”“不渴,你可以走了。”“乐乐,饿吗?”“不饿,你怎么还在这儿。”“乐乐,痒吗?”“哎呀都说了不要了,呀,你怎么进来了。”某总统大人欺压在身,奸笑着“乐乐,不好意思,我硬了。”【色迷心窍:霸上总统大人】【宠虐,求收藏,么么哒】
  • EXO:待合衬

    EXO:待合衬

    其实生命中有很多无法解释的东西,因为无法解释,也就充满了无限玄机,给人以遐思,像命运早已设计好了的情节似的,仿佛冥冥中已有定数。那一些关于你的故事,在我零乱的脑海里一层层的堆积着……
  • 明阳记

    明阳记

    世间是否有真正的对错,他是豪门之子,却坎坷落难,却又自强不息,努力将歧路走成坦途
  • 夙卿歌

    夙卿歌

    仰手接飞猱,俯身散马蹄。捐躯赴国难,视死忽如归!以整个天下为局,百万平民百姓为子,下一场旷世棋局,以命博,为争那天下。她,黎夙卿,本是尊贵的两国公主,无心于世间权贵,只愿一把琴,一壶酒,逍遥天下。奈何乱世逢生,她无路可退。于是,以倾凰之姿,凤舞飞天,涅槃重生,弃罗衫,清君侧,平叛乱,只为护得家国平安。他,兰臻,幼时深受苦难,西秦皇宫里的无数阴谋诡计,踏着累累白骨,最后出现了名震七国的一代权王。只是当那双凤眸填满算计,那双素手沾满血腥之时,他可会感到一丝孤独?当命运无法逆转,一场寿宴,他遇到了她,又是谁的劫,戏局内外,棋逢对手。青丝落,佳人离,琴弦断,家国破,谁再为她谱写一首夙卿歌!
  • 田园有喜:财迷农女要翻天

    田园有喜:财迷农女要翻天

    穿越的日子不好过,婆婆作威作福,大姑姐刁钻蛮横,偏偏亲爹还给她们当帮凶,逼得简小荷没活路。不过幸好捡来的萌宠本领高,改建空间,帮忙致富,还能斗渣男当保镖,用处多多效果好。经商种田当里长,发行纸币建银庄,小农女成为山村致富带头人,硬把小村变成大城市,一不小心撞上花儿一样的美男纸!什么,还是熟人?为什么我不认识你?PS:另一本种田文《锦绣田园:空间农女好种田》即将完结,希望大家多多支持!
  • 守护甜心之复仇樱公主

    守护甜心之复仇樱公主

    亚梦受到了朋友的背叛,只有璃茉相信。之后亚梦开始了复仇
  • 爱上男神怎么办

    爱上男神怎么办

    少女苏陌在16岁生日那年,父母皆因车祸去世,留下年仅13岁的妹妹,苏璃。父母双亡,使苏陌成了家中唯一的支柱,面对那些尖酸刻薄的脸,阴狠恶毒的手段,她又是怎样惩恶人,正邪气的呢?看少女苏陌如何步步为营,绝处逢生的成长为一代影后,受万人膜拜。
  • tfboys之虐恋

    tfboys之虐恋

    砸里呢,讲的就素我们的三只和他们的女友发生的事咯,有点虐呦,还有呢,这些都不是真实的,大家不要当真哦,第一次写文文,大家多多支持呢,多多投推荐票,多多评论,在评论区提建议哦,多多收藏。