# ■ 3 The hotel-owner

It was fine May weather as I travelled north that day，and as I watched the fields and the trees and the flowers，I wondered why，when I had been a free man，I had stayed in London. I bought some sandwiches at lunch time. I also bought the morning newspaper and read a little about south-east Europe.

When I had finished，I got out Scudder's black book and studied it. It was almost full of writing，mostly numbers，although sometimes there was a name. For example，I found the words'Hofgaard'，'Luneville'，and'Avocado'quite often. The word I saw the most was'Pavia'.

I was certain that Scudder was using a code. I have always been interested in codes；I enjoy games and numbers and things like that. It seemed to be a number code，where groups of numbers replace letters. I worked on the words，because you can use a word as a key in a number code.

I tried for hours，but none of the words helped. Then I fell asleep，and woke up at Dumfries just in time to take the local train into Galloway. There was a man on the platform who worried me a little；he was watching the crowd more closely than I liked. But he didn't look at me，and when I saw myself in a mirror，I understood why；with my brown face and my old clothes I looked just like all the other hill farmers who were getting into the local train.

I travelled with a group of these farmers. The train travelled slowly through narrow valleys and then up onto an open moor. There were lakes，and in the distance I could see high mountains.

At five o'clock the carriage was empty and I was alone. I got out at the next station，a tiny place in the middle of the moor. An old man was digging in the station garden. He stopped，walked to the train，collected a packet，and went back to his potatoes. A ten-year-old child took my ticket，and I came out of the station onto a white road across the moor.

It was a beautiful，clear spring evening. I felt like a boy on a walking holiday，instead of a man of thirty-seven very much wanted by the police. I walked along the road whistling，feeling happier every minute.

After some time I left the road and followed a path along a little stream. I was getting tired when I came to a small house. The woman who lived there was friendly，and said I could sleep there. She also gave me an excellent meal.

Her husband came home from the hills later in the evening. We talked about cows and sheep and markets，and I tried to remember some of the information I heard，because it might be useful. By ten o'clock I was asleep，and I slept until five o'clock in the morning.

The couple refused any money，and by six o'clock I had eaten breakfast and was moving again. I wanted to get back to the railway at a different station. Then I would go back to the east，towards Dumfries. I hoped that if the police were following me，they would think that I had gone on to the coast in the west，where I could escape by ship.

I walked in the same beautiful spring weather as before，and still couldn't make myself feel nervous or worried. After a time I came to the railway line，and soon a little station，which was perfect for my plan. There was just a single line and moors all around. I waited until I saw a train in the distance，and then bought a ticket to Dumfries.

The only person in the carriage was an old farmer with his sheepdog. He was asleep，and next to him was a newspaper. I picked it up to see if there was any news about me. There was only a short piece about the Langham Place Murder. My servant Paddock had called the police，and the milkman had been arrested. The poor man had spent most of the day with the police，but they had let him go in the evening. The police believed that the real murderer had escaped from London on a train to the north.

When I had finished reading，I looked out of the window and noticed that we were stopping at the station where I had got out yesterday. Three men were talking to the man who I had seen digging potatoes. I sat well back from the window and watched carefully. One of the men was taking notes，and I supposed they were from the local police. Then，I saw the child who had taken my ticket talking，and the men looked out across the moor along that road I had taken.

As we left the station，the farmer woke up，looked at me，and asked where he was. He had clearly drunk too much.

I'm like this because I never drink，'he said，sadly. 'I haven't touched whisky since last year. Not even at Christmas. And now I've got this terrible headache. '

What did it？'I asked.

A drink they call brandy. I didn't touch the whisky because I don't drink，but I kept drinking this brandy. I'll be ill for a fortnight. 'His voice got slower and slower and soon he fell asleep again.

I had planned to leave the train at a station，but it now stopped by a river and I decided this would be better. I looked out of the carriage window and saw nobody，so I opened the door and dropped quickly down into the long grass. My plan was going perfectly until the dog decided that I was stealing something and began to bark loudly. This woke up the farmer who started to shout. He thought I was trying to kill myself. I crawled through the long grass for about a hundred metres and then looked back. The train driver and several passengers were all staring in my direction.

Luckily，the dog was now so excited that he pulled the farmer out of the carriage. The farmer began to slide down towards the river. The otner passengers ran to help him，the dog bit somebody，and there was a lot of excited shouting. Soon they had forgotten me，and the next time I looked back，the train was moving again.

I was now in the middle of the empty moor，and for the first time I felt really frightened，not of the police but of the people who knew that I knew Scudder's secret. If they caught me，I would be a dead man.

I reached the top of a low hill and looked around. To the south，a long way away，I saw something which made me tremble…

Low in the sky a small plane was flying slowly across the moor. I was certain that it was looking for me，and I was also certain that it was not the police. I hid low in the heather and watched it for an hour or two as it flew in circles. Finally it disappeared to the south.

I did not like this spying from the air，and I began to think that an open moor was perhaps not the best place to hide. I could see distant forests in the east，and decided that would be better country.

It was about six o'clock in the evening when I left the moor and entered the trees. I came to a bridge by a house，and there，on the bridge，was a young man. He was sitting smoking a pipe，dreamily watching the water，and holding a book. He jumped up as he heard my feet on the road and I saw a friendly young face.

Good evening to you，'he said in a serious voice. 'It's a fine night to be on the road. '

The smell of cooking came from the house.

Is that house a hotel？'I asked.

It certainly is. I'm the owner，and I hope you'll stay the night，because I've been alone for a week. '

I sat down next to him and got out my pipe. I began to think this young man might help me.

You're young to own a hotel，'I said.

My father died a year ago and now it's mine. It's not an exciting job for a young man like me. I didn't choose to do it. I want to write books. '

You've got the right job，'I said. 'With all the travellers you meet you could be the best storyteller in the world. '

Not today，'he said. 'Two hundred years ago，there were exciting people on the road，but today there are only cars full of fat old women，and fishermen. You can't make stories out of them. I want to sail up an African river，or live in an Indian village-and write about things like that. '

The hotel looked peaceful in the evening sun.

I've travelled a bit，'I said，'and I'd be happy to live in a peaceful place like this. And perhaps you're sitting next to adventure now. I'll tell you a true story，and you can make a book of it if you like. '

I told him I was in the gold business in Africa，and I had discovered a group of international thieves. They had chased me to England and had killed my best friend. I described a chase across the desert，and an attack on the ship from Africa. And I described the Langham Place murder in detail. 'You want adventure，'I said，'well，here it is. The thieves are chasing me now，and the police are chasing them. '

It's wonderful！'he whispered.

You believe me，'I said gratefully.

Of course I do，'he said. 'I can believe anything strange. It's things that happen every day that are difficult to believe. '

He was very young，but he was the man I needed.

I think my enemies have lost me for the moment. But I must hide and rest for a day or two. Will you help me？'

He jumped up and led me to the house. 'You'll be safe here. I can keep a secret. And you'll tell me some more about your adventures，won't you？'

As I entered the hotel，I heard the sound of an engine. In the sky to the west was my enemy the plane.

He gave me a room at the back of the house. I asked him to watch out for cars and planes and sat down to work on Scudder's little book. As I have said，it was a number code. I had to find the word that was the key to it，and when I thought of the million words it might be，I felt hopeless. But the next afternoon I remembered that Scudder had said a woman called Julia Czechenyi was the key to the Karolides business，so I tried her name as the code key.

It was the answer. In half an hour I was reading，with a white face.

Suddenly，I heard the sound of a car stopping outside the hotel.

Ten minutes later，my young friend came up to my room，his eyes bright with excitement.

There are two men looking for you，'he whispered. They're downstairs now having a drink. They described you very well. I told them you had stayed here last night and had left this morning. '

I asked him to describe them. One was a thin man with dark eyes，the other was always smiling and lisped. They were both English；my young friend was certain of this.

I took a piece of paper and wrote these words in German. I made it look like one page of a private letter：

…Black Stone. Scudder had discovered this，but he could do nothing for a fortnight. I don't think it's any good now because Karolides is uncertain about his plans. But if Mr T. advises，I will do the best I…

Give this to them and say you found it in my bedroom. Ask them to return it to me if they find me. '

Three minutes later the car began to move. From behind the curtain I saw two men in it，one thin，one fatter.

The young man came back. He was very excited. 'That paper woke them up，'he said，happily. 'The thin man went white，and the fat one whistled. Then they left as quickly as they could. '

Now I'll tell you what I want you to do，'I said. 'Go to the police station and describe the two men to them. Say you think they may have something to do with the London murder. I'm sure those two men will be back here tomorrow morning for more information about me. Tell the police to be here early. '

At about eight o'clock the next morning I watched three policemen arrive. They hid their car and came into the hotel. Twenty minutes later another car came towards the hotel，but stopped in some trees about two hundred metres away. The two men inside walked up to the hotel.

I had planned to hide in my bedroom and see what happened. But now I had a better idea. I wrote a note to thank the young man for his help，opened my window and dropped out. Watching the hotel carefully，I walked back towards the car in the trees，jumped in，and drove away.

■ 3 旅館老闆

那天我向北走，五月的天氣風和日麗。我一邊望著田野，樹木和花草一邊琢磨，我本來是自由之身，呆在倫敦幹什麼。午飯的時候我買了點三明治，又買了份晨報，讀了些有關東南歐的事。

完事之後，我拿出斯卡德爾的黑筆記本仔細研究。筆記本差不多寫滿了，大多是數字，時而有個人名。比如，筆記本上常常可以看到“霍夫高”、“呂內維爾”和“阿沃卡多”。見得最多的詞是“帕維亞”。

可以肯定，斯卡德爾用的是密碼。對於密碼我一直覺得很有興趣；我喜歡遊戲，數字這類的東西。看起來用的是數字密碼，用一組組數字代表字母。我研究本上的文字，因為你可以利用文字作為解開數字密碼的鑰匙。

我試了幾個小時。沒有一個字有用。後來就睡著了，到鄧弗里斯醒來剛好趕上去加洛韋的當地火車。站臺有個人讓我有點兒擔心；他緊盯著過往人群，叫人討厭。他並沒有看我，我自己照照鏡子，明白了為什麼；我一張古銅色的臉，穿著一身舊衣服，看起來和正上火車的其他山民一模一樣。

我和山民們一起坐著火車。火車緩慢地在狹窄的山谷中穿行，然後爬上開闊的原野。原野上有一個個湖泊，遠處能看到一座座高山。

五點鐘，車廂空空只剩下我一人。下一站我也下了車，那是個位於荒原中部的小地方。有個老頭在車站的園子裡挖地。車到了，他停下手裡的活，向火車走來，收了個包裹，又回到馬鈴薯地裡去。一個十歲的孩子收了車票，我就出了車站，走上橫跨荒原的白色大路。

春日的黃昏美麗而清爽。我感到像個野足度假的少年，而不是被警察窮追不捨的、三十七歲的漢子。我一路吹著口哨走下去，越來越覺得美滋滋的。

又過了一會兒，我拐下大路沿著溪邊的小路走。我感到累時，忽然看到一間小屋。小屋的女主人對我很好，她說我可以睡在那兒。她還讓我美餐了一頓。

黃昏之後，她丈夫從山裡回來了。我們一起聊天，談牛羊，談市場，我極力記住聽來的情況，因為將來可能用得著。十點鐘，我睡著了，早上五點醒來。

這對夫婦不肯收我的錢，我六點鐘吃完早飯就又上路了。我想在別的車站再上火車。然後登車東行奔鄧弗里斯。我想如果警察尾追著我，他們會認為我逃向西邊的海岸，在那兒我可以坐船逃跑。

走在路上，春日的天氣依然美好如初，我仍然不知道什麼是緊張和憂慮。過了一會兒，見到鐵路，後來見到車站，這個車站對實現我的計劃非常理想。只有單軌鐵路，周圍都是荒原。我等著火車從遠處開來，然後買了一張去鄧弗里斯的票。

車廂裡只有一個人，是個老農，帶著一隻牧羊犬。他正在睡覺，旁邊放著一張報紙。我拿起報紙，看看有沒有關於我的報道。只有一則關於蘭厄姆命案的短訊。我的僕人帕多克報了警，於是那個送奶員就被捕了。那個可憐蟲被警察關了大半天，到晚上才讓他回家。警察認為真正的凶手已逃離倫敦，坐火車北去了。

讀完報，向車窗外望去，發現我們就停在昨天我下車的車站。有三個人正在和昨天挖馬鈴薯的那個人說話。我儘量坐得離車窗遠點，仔細觀察著。其中一個做著筆記，我猜他們是地方警察。後來我見收票的小孩說話，那幾個人順著我昨天走的路放眼向荒原望著。我們的車離開車站時，那個老農醒了，看了看我，問這是哪裡。顯然，他喝多了。

“我不常喝酒，所以像這個樣子，”他說得很傷心。“打去年我一滴威士忌也沒沾過。連過聖誕也沒有沾。可現在我喝得頭痛得要死。”

“怎麼搞的？”我問。

“是那種叫白蘭地的酒。由於不喝酒我不沾威士忌，而我老是喝這種白蘭地。我可能會病兩星期……”他說得越來越慢，很快就又睡著了。

我原來打算在某個車站下車，而現在車停在河邊，我想這更好。從車窗向外望去，什麼人也沒有，我於是迅速地打開車門，飛快地跳進高高的草叢中。老農那條狗卻斷定我在偷什麼東西，於是狂吠起來，這下把我好好的計劃打亂了。老農醒了，也開始叫喊。他認為我想自殺。我在高草叢裡爬了大概有一百米然後回頭看了看。火車司機還有許多乘客都盯著我這個方向。

萬幸的是那條狗激動得一下把老農甩到車廂外邊。老農順著河坡滾下去。其他旅客跑過去幫忙，狗又咬了誰，亂糟糟吵作一團。不久就把我給忘了，再回頭一看，火車又開了。

現在我身處荒原中央，頭一回感到害怕，不是怕警察，而是怕那些知道我瞭解斯卡德爾祕密的人。萬一他們抓住我，我就完了。

我爬到一座小丘的頂上，四下望著。向南遠遠望去，我看到一樣東西，嚇得我渾身發抖……

在天空有一架小飛機低飛著，緩緩穿過荒原。肯定這是在找我，也肯定不是警察。我貼身藏在石楠叢中，望著飛機繞圈子，一直望了一兩個小時。最後飛機消失在南方。

我討厭這種空中間諜行徑，同時想到開闊的荒原大概並非理想的藏身之處。東邊我可以看到遠處的樹林，覺得那是個好地方。

大約黃昏六點鐘，我離開荒原，鑽入樹林。我走到一座橋上，橋旁有一座房子，橋上有一個年輕人。他坐在那兒，叼著菸斗迷迷糊糊地望著河水，手裡拿著一本書。聽到我的腳步聲，他跳了起來，我看到他那張和善的面孔。

“晚上好，”他一本正經地說，“這樣的晚上走路可真不錯。”

房子裡飄出做飯的香味。

“這是旅店嗎？”我問道。

“當然，我就是老闆。希望您留下過夜，我獨自一人已經一週了。”

我靠著他坐下，掏出菸斗來。開始想這個年輕人也許能幫我的忙。

“您這麼年輕就開旅店了。”我說。

“我父親一年前去世了，把旅館傳給了我。這種事對我這樣的年輕人不來勁。這不是我要乾的，我想寫書。”

“那您這工作正好，”我說。“您接待這麼多客人，肯定能成為世界上最棒的小說家。”

“現在不行了，”他說。“二百年前路上過往的人多帶勁，可現在滿車都是胖女人和漁夫。您沒法拿他們編故事。我想在非洲一條河裡揚帆而上，或者在印度的農村住下——寫些像這樣的事情。”

這家旅店在夕陽下寧靜祥和。

“我出過幾次門，”我說，“要是能住在這樣寧靜的地方就夠開心了。而且現在驚險的事就在您身邊。讓我給您講個真事，如果您願意，可以拿它寫本書。”

我告訴他我在非洲做黃金生意，而且發現了一個國際盜竊集團。他們追我追到英格蘭，而且把我的好朋友給殺了。我給他繪聲繪色地講大漠追蹤、非洲船上的襲擊。我又詳細地講了蘭厄姆的謀殺。“您要聽驚險的事，”我說，“這裡就有。這幫竊賊正在追殺我，而警察也正在追捕他們。”

“太好了！”他低聲說。

“您信得過我，”我心懷感激地說。

“當然信得過，”他說。“什麼怪事我都信。天天見到的事倒是讓人難以相信的。”

他還年輕，但我正需要這樣的人。

“我想我的仇人這會兒不知道我哪兒去了。但我必須躲起來而且休息一兩天。您能幫忙嗎？”

他跳起來，把我領進屋去。“這兒很安全。我可以保密。您多說說您的冒險故事，好不好？”

一進旅店我就聽到發動機的聲音。敵人的飛機就在西邊的天上。

他把我安置在後面的一間屋裡。我求他注意觀察汽車和飛機，然後就坐下來研究斯卡德爾的小筆記本。以前說過，這是數字暗碼。我必須找到解碼的關鍵字，而當我想到有幾百萬個字的可能性時，感到束手無策。但是第二天下午，我想起斯卡德爾說過一個叫朱莉婭·採奇尼的女人是卡羅裡德斯事件的關鍵，因此，我試著用她的名字作解碼的鑰匙。

答案有了。我讀了半個小時，驚得臉色煞白。

突然，我聽到旅店門外汽車的剎車聲。

十分鐘後，年輕的朋友到我屋來，興奮得兩眼發光。

“有兩個人正在找您，”他小聲說。“現在在樓下喝水。他們把您的相貌說得一點兒不差。我告訴他們您昨天晚上在這兒過夜了，今天早晨走的。”

我問他們什麼長相。一個是黑眼睛的瘦削男人，另一個總是滿臉笑容，說話口齒不清。他們都是英國人。這一點我這位年輕的朋友十分肯定。

我拿出一張紙，用德文寫出下列的字。我讓這些文字看起來像是一頁私人信件：

……黑石。斯卡德爾已經發現了。但在兩週之內他沒有辦法。我覺得情況不妙，因為現在卡羅裡德斯對他的行動還未下決心。但如果T先生要求那樣，我會盡力……

“請把這個給他們，就說您在我臥室發現的。就說如果他們能找到我，把這個還給我。”

三分鐘後，汽車啟動了。從窗簾後面看到車裡坐著兩個人，一瘦一胖。

那個年輕人回來了。他異常興奮。“那張紙讓他們坐不住了。”他興高彩烈地說：“瘦子的臉變得煞白，胖子吹起了口哨。後來就忙不迭地走了。”

“來，我告訴您下一步怎麼做，”我說。“去警察局告訴他們這兩個人什麼長相。並說您覺得他們和倫敦的謀殺案可能有關。這兩個人明天早晨肯定回來再打聽我的消息。告訴警察早點到這兒來。”

第二天早晨大約八點，我看到三個警察來了。他們把車隱蔽起來就進了旅店。二十分鐘之後，又一輛車奔旅店開來，但停在離旅店大約二百米的樹林中。車裡的兩個人向旅店走來。

本來我打算躲在臥室不出來，看看動向。現在我有個更好的主意。我給年輕人寫了張條子，對他的幫助表示感謝，然後打開窗戶，跳了出去。我一邊向樹林裡的汽車走去，一邊小心翼翼地觀察旅店的情形，然後跳進車，疾馳而去。