THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS
Anne's Gate punctually by half-past eleven. The butler was coming up by train with the luggage.
The first thing he did was to take me round to Scotland Yard. There we saw a prim gentleman, with a clean-shaven lawyer's face.
"I've brought you the Portland Place murderer," was Sir Walter's introduction.
The reply was a wry smile. "It would have been a welcome present, Bullivant. This, I presume, is Mr. Richard Hannay, who for some days greatly interested my department."
"Mr. Hannay will interest it again. He has much to tell you, but not to-day. For certain grave reasons his tale must wait for twenty-four hours. Then, I can promise you, you will be entertained and possibly edified. I want you to assure Mr. Hannay that he will suffer no further inconvenience."
This assurance was promptly given. "You can take up your life where you left off," I was told. "Your flat, which probably you no longer wish to occupy, is waiting for you, and your man is still there. As you were
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