Page 142 - the-thirty-nine-steps

I couldn’t find a word.
‘I hope you’ll find it consistent with your duty to drop
this ridiculous business. I make no complaint, but you’ll see
how annoying it must be to respectable people.’
I shook my head.
‘O Lord,’ said the young man. ‘This is a bit too thick!’
‘Do you propose to march us off to the police station?’
asked the plump one. ‘That might be the best way out of it,
but I suppose you won’t be content with the local branch. I
have the right to ask to see your warrant, but I don’t wish
to cast any aspersions upon you. You are only doing your
duty. But you’ll admit it’s horribly awkward. What do you
propose to do?’
There was nothing to do except to call in my men and
have them arrested, or to confess my blunder and clear out.
I felt mesmerized by the whole place, by the air of obvious
innocence not innocence merely, but frank honest bewil-
derment and concern in the three faces.
‘Oh, Peter Pienaar,’ I groaned inwardly, and for a mo-
ment I was very near damning myself for a fool and asking
their pardon.
‘Meantime I vote we have a game of bridge,’ said the
plump one. ‘It will give Mr Hannay time to think over
things, and you know we have been wanting a fourth player.
Do you play, Sir?’
I accepted as if it had been an ordinary invitation at the
club. The whole business had mesmerized me. We went into
the smoking-room where a card-table was set out, and I was
offered things to smoke and drink. I took my place at the ta-

142 The Thirty-Nine Steps