第33章

“Waitabit，“saidMr。Brisher。“Isay，I’dmademyplan。Thatputthekyboshononebit，butitdidn’t’urtthegeneralschemenotabit。

IwentandIfinishedthatrockerynextday，asthoughtherewasn’taSnackintheworld；cementedoverthestones，Idid，dabbeditgreenandeverythink。Iputadabofgreenjusttoshowwheretheboxwas。Theyallcameandlookedatit，andsai’owniceitwas——even’ewasabitsofterliketoseeit，andallhesaidwas，“It’sapityyoucan’talwaysworklikethat，thenyoumightgetsomethingdefinitetodo，“hesays。

“’Yes，’Isays——Icouldn’t’elpit——’Iputalotinthatrockery，’

Isays，likethat。See？’Iputalotinthatrockery’——meaning——“

“Isee，“saidI——forMr。Brisherisapttooverelaboratehisjokes。

“_’E_didn’t，“saidMr。Brisher。“Notthen，anyhow。

“Ar’ever——afterallthatwasover，offIsetforLondon……

OrfIsetforLondon。“

Pause。

“On’yIwasn’tgoingtonoLondon，“saidMr。Brisher，withsuddenanimation，andthrustinghisfaceintomine。“Nofear！WhatdoYOU

think？

“Ididn’tgonofurtherthanColchester——notayard。

“I’dleftthespadejustwhereIcouldfindit。I’dgoteverythingplannedandright。I’iredalittletrapinColchester，andpretendedIwantedtogotoIpswichandstopthenight，andcomebacknextday，andthechapI’ireditfrommademeleavetwosovringsonitrightaway，andoffIset。

“Ididn’tgotonoIpswichneither。

“Midnightthe’orseandtrapwas’itchedbythelittleroadthatranbythecottagewhere’elived——notsixtyyardsoff，itwasn’t——andIwasatitlikeagood’un。Itwasjestthenightforsuchgames——overcast——butatrifletoo’ot，andallroundtheskytherewassummerlightningandpresentlyathunderstorm。Downitcame。

Firstbigdropsinasortoffizzle，then’ail。Ikep’on。Iwhackedatit——Ididn’tdreamtheoldmanwould’ear。Ididn’teventroubletogoquietwiththespade，andthethunderandlightningand’ailseemedtoexcitemelike。Ishouldn’twonderifIwassinging。Igotso’ardatitIcleanforgotthethunderandthe’orseandtrap。I

precioussoongottheboxshowing，andstartedtoliftit“

“Heavy？“Isaid。

“Icouldn’tnomoreliftitthanfly。IWASsick。I’dneverthoughtofthatIgotregularwild——Itellyou，Icursed。Igotsortofoutrageous。Ididn’tthinkofdividingitlikefortheminute，andeventhenIcouldn’t’avetookmoneyaboutlooseinatrap。

Ihoistedoneendsortofwildlike，andoverthewholeshowwentwithatremenjousnoise。Perfecksmashofsilver。Andthenrightontheheelsofthat，Flash！Lightningliketheday！andtherewasthebackdooropenandtheoldmancomingdownthegardenwith’isbloomingoldgun。Hewasn’tnota’undredyardsaway！

“ItellyouIwasthatupset——Ididn’tthinkwhatIwasdoing。

Ineverstopped-noteventofillmypockets。Iwent