Barlow will collect them and then drive to Folkestone. Where will we be? In a first-class compartment enjoying the journey. What happens afterward? We divide the gold as agreed. After that. - After that? - Yes, after that. You and I will go to Paris. You have it all worked out. We ride on the train and they do the work. They have to earn their share, don't they? It's all very smooth. Unless something goes wrong. What could go wrong? My dear Mr Simms. As your humble servant, I would be greatly obliged and indebted if you could contrive to meet with me at the Palace, Sydenham for the purpose... For the purpose... For the purpose of discussing some matters of... mutual interest. Most respectfully, William Williams, Esquire. That should do it. Well now, Willy... What's this fellow Simms up to, eh? Please, sir, I can't tell you. Should have thought of that before we caught you with this purse. I don't want to go back to prison, sir. Well, then. Better tell us. I don't know, sir. I told you. All's I know is that he's a cracksman planning a flash pull, he is. The letter will put you on to him. We'll see. They'll kill me, they will. Then see you aren't running off again, eh? We'll have a look at this mysterious Mr Simms. Don't turn round, Willy. - Now, what is it? - I'm needing a bit, Mr Simms. - You've been paid. - I'm needing more. - You been working, Willy? - No! - Did the crushers pick you up? - I swear it, no! - Willy, if you've turned nose on me... - I swear it's no flam. A finny or two's what I need and that'll be an end to it. There's a finny in your pocket. You're sweating. If you've turned nose on me, I'll see you in lavender. Not me, sir. I swear. Three crushers. Edward! Edward Pierce. Edward, we were wondering what had become of you. I got married. Must dash. - Do you think he's in trouble? - Wouldn't surprise me. Very rough man. Not a good sort at all. - So, the snakesman is dead. - I'm afraid so, sir. - And this fellow Simms has vanished? - Yes, sir. And we don't know who he is or what he intends? - We are entirely without clues. - No, not entirely. We know Simms arranged for Clean Willy to break from Newgate some months ago. - So it's a long-standing plan. - A plan we don't know. Quite. But we do know Simms is a safecracker. He must be after safes. And Willy broke into the dispatcher's office of the South Eastern Railway Line. And it occurred to me, could this Simms be planning to steal the Crimean gold? Steal from a moving railway train? Who could imagine such a thing? The next gold shipment is tomorrow. I've alerted the railway line to take extra precautions. - What's this? - Precautions, sir. I will ride the train to Folkestone tonight. I shall be there tomorrow in case there's any tomfoolery when the gold arrives. - Very enterprising of you. - Thank you, sir. We've made new security arrangements throughout. New lock. New guard, just in case they do have the audacity to try for the Crimean gold. Excellent foresight, Mr Sharp. I must commend you on your attention in this matter. We certainly wouldn't want to lose that gold. It's all changed. Everything. Everything's changed. No one's allowed to ride in the luggage van save Burgess himself as guard. And they've got a new jack on the platform who opens all parcels large enough for a man to hide in. And if that ain't bad enough, they've gone and fitted a lock on the luggage van door. They're locking it at the station and not opening it until it gets to Folkestone. A precautionary measure. All on account of the gold. Bloody outside lock! It can't be worked from within. Even if I was to be able to get inside the van I'd be locked inside there until it gets into Folkestone. And who do you think's behind all this? Only the crushers theirselves, that's who. Two plainclothes jacks were there, saying as how a Mr Simms was planning to rob the ------------------------------ Читайте также: - текст Суинни Тодд, маньяк-парикмахер с Флит Стрит на английском - текст 48 часов на английском - текст Ох уж эта наука! на английском - текст Волшебная лампа Аладдина на английском - текст Финист - ясный сокол на английском |