Chapter 4 The "Metropolis" Hotel Jewelry Theft

"Poirot," said I, "a change of air will do you good." "Do you think so, my dear friend?" "Of course I think so." "Oh—huh?" said my friend, laughing. "So everything is arranged?" "Are you planning to go?" "Where do you want to take me?" "Brighton. In fact, a friend of mine promised me a very nice thing, which is that I can spend my money as I like, as people usually say. I think a weekend at the 'Cosmopolitan' hotel , will allow both of us to enjoy the wonders of this world." "Thank you, I accept this invitation with great gratitude. You have a good heart to think of an old man, and that good heart is worth all the wisdom of this head. Yes, yes, I hereby Saying this to you at this moment, sometimes it is easy to forget this."

I do not expect such compliments, and sometimes I think Poirot always underestimates my intelligence a little.But he was in such high spirits that my petty unhappiness was indifferent. "Let's go then," I urged. We had dinner at the "Cosmopolitan" hotel on a Saturday night surrounded by a happy crowd.The splendor and luxury of the whole world seemed to be concentrated in Brighton.Here and there was the dress of inspection and the glint of jewels--jeweled by some more for show than for taste. "Oh, what a splendor it is!" said Poirot. "This is the paradise of the upstarts, is it not, Hastings?"

"Even so," I replied, "but let's hope that people here aren't all upstarts." Poirot scanned his surroundings calmly. "Seeing so much jewellery, makes me want to commit a crime instead of investigating it. What an opportunity for a master thief! Say, Hastings, you Look, that fat woman standing against the pillar, you can tell she's covered in jewels." I followed his gaze. "Ah," I exclaimed, "that's Mrs. Oparson." "You know her?" "Kind of knowing. Her husband was a breakout stockbroker. He made a fortune during the latest oil price boom."

After dinner, in the hotel lounge, we met the Opassens, and I introduced Poirot to them.After chatting for a few minutes, we drank coffee together. Poirot complimented the expensive jewels on the woman's broad bosom, and the woman immediately became excited. "It's a special hobby of mine, Monsieur Poirot. I just love jewels. Ed knows this weakness of mine, and buys me new jewels every time he makes money; you're interested in these precious stones too. ?" "I have seen a lot of them, ma'am. My profession has brought me to see some of the most famous gemstones in the world."

Poirot went on to tell the story of a historic jewel in the royal collection.Of course, he withdrew his real name, and Mrs. Oparson listened with breathless concentration, fascinated. "Ah!" she exclaimed when he had finished his story, "I have a pearl necklace myself; and there is a story about those pearls. I believe it should be one of the best necklaces in the world... Those pearls are perfectly matched in shape and size, and their color is flawless. I should go upstairs and get it down to show you!" "Oh, Madame," said Poirot hastily, "you are too enthusiastic. Be careful not to tire you!"

"Ah, but I wanted to show it to you." The fat woman, who had been talking to me just now, was looking at Poirot inquiringly as the fat woman walked briskly towards the lift. "Mrs. Zun was so enthusiastic, she insisted on showing me her pearl necklace." "Ah, those pearls," Opalsen said, with a smug smile, "if that wasn't a fiction! Those pearls are worth looking at, you know, and they cost me a fortune, but Well, that money is still in my hands, and I can sell it whenever I want, and I can always make back what I spent—maybe a little more. Maybe someday, if the situation is like If it is like this now, it will not be easy to make money now." He kept chattering.Later, when it came to stock quotes and some terms, I couldn't understand them.

A little head waiter came up to him, interrupted him, and whispered something in his ear. "Er—what? I'll be right there. She's not sick, is she? I'm sorry, gentlemen." He left us quickly.Poirot leaned back in his chair and lit one of his favorite Russian cigarettes.Then, very carefully, he arranged the empty coffee cups in a neat row; watching the fruits of his labor, a satisfied smile appeared on his face. Time passed slowly, and the Opersons have not returned. "Strange!" I finally lost my composure and said, "I don't know when they will come back."

Poirot looked at the rising smoke ring, and then said thoughtfully: "They won't be coming back." "why?" "Because, my friend. Because something happened." "What's the matter? How do you know?" I asked curiously. Poirot smiled. "A few minutes ago, the manager of the hotel hurried out of his office and went up the stairs, looking very sad and disturbed. The elevator attendant whispered to the foremen, and the elevator bell rang three times back and forth, but he did not seem to hear. Besides, Even the waiters are getting flustered, and if a manager is to be flustered—” Poirot shook his head conclusively, “it must be something very serious, ah, exactly as I thought! Now, the police come. gone."

Two men, one in uniform, the other in civilian clothes, were entering the hotel doors, spoke to a head waiter, and were immediately led upstairs.A few minutes later, the head waiter who had brought them up came downstairs and walked over to where we were sitting. "Mr. Oparson, please, would you two like to go upstairs?" Poirot stood up immediately, and from his movements it could be said that he was always waiting for this call. "Of course I am happy to accompany you!" The room of the Opersons is located on the second floor.After knocking on the door, the head waiter stepped back.Hearing 'come in' from inside, we opened the door and entered, and there was an amazing sight in front of us.The room we came in was Mrs. Oparson's bedroom. In the middle of the bedroom, a rocking chair was turned upside down on the ground. The lady was lying on the rocking chair. The tears flowed out in small rivers on her face covered with thick powder.Mr Operson was pacing up and down angrily, and two police officers stood in the middle of the room, one of them holding a notepad.A hotel maid who made up the room looked terrified, standing motionless by the fireplace.On the other side of the room stood a Frenchwoman, who was obviously Mrs. Opason's maid, and was also weeping with her hands, and she showed no less great grief than her daughter. Owner.

Poirot, neatly dressed and smiling, strolled into the crying and noisy room.Immediately the enormous figure of Mrs Operson sprang from her chair and rushed to Poirot. "Look at the way it is now, Ed can say whatever he wants, but I believe in luck, I do. It's fate that I met you this evening. I also have a feeling that if you can't If I get my pearl necklace back, it will be impossible for anyone to find it, and no one can do it except you." "Please be quiet, I beg you." Poirot patted her reassuringly. hand, "Be sure to cheer yourself up and believe in yourself, and everything will be all right. Hercule Poirot will help you!"

Mr Operson turned to the officer and said: "Is there nothing wrong with calling this gentleman up?" "Nothing, sir," replied the inspector politely, but in a cool tone. "Now, your lady may feel better if she will let us hear what happened." Mrs Operson looked at Poirot helplessly.Poirot led her to a chair. "Please sit down, madam. Then tell us the whole story, and you must not be too distressed." With an effort of restraint, Madame Alpasson wiped away her tears carefully, and began: "After supper I have come upstairs for my pearl necklace, which I wish to show to M. Poirot. As usual." , this maid and my maid are both in the room—" "Excuse me, ma'am, what do you mean 'as usual'?" Mr Operson explained: "I have made it a rule that no one is allowed to enter this room except our maid. In the morning, when the maid comes to make the room, our maid must be here; after dinner, when she comes to make the bed, the maid must be there." Here, otherwise, she cannot enter this room." "Well, as I said," went on Mrs Operson, "I'm coming upstairs, and I'm coming to this drawer"—meaning the bottom drawer on the right-hand side of the dresser. - "Take out my jewelry box and open it, it looks the same as usual - however, the pearl necklace inside is missing!" The officer, who had been busy writing notes in his notepad, looked up and asked, "When was the last time you saw those pearls?" "It was still here when I went down to dinner." "Are you sure?" "Of course. I wasn't sure whether to wear it, but I finally decided to wear my emerald necklace. Then I put the pearl necklace in the jewelry box." "Who locked the jewelry box?" "I locked it, and I put the key on a thin chain around my neck," she said, holding up the chain for us to see. The officer examined it carefully and shrugged. "The burglar must have used a duplicate key. No problem. The lock is ordinary. What did you do after you locked it?" "I put it in this bottom drawer, which I always do." "Did you not lock the drawer?" "No, I never lock the drawers. My maid stays in the room until I go upstairs, so there's no need to lock them." The officer's face became serious. "Does I understand that the jewelry was still there when you went downstairs to dinner, and that your maid has not left the room since then?" Suddenly, as if for the first time the dreadful situation in which she herself was confronted, the maid screamed aloud, threw herself on Poirot, and uttered a cascade of incoherent French, That meant—that the officer's insinuation was mean and nasty!How dare you suspect that I stole from the hostess!We all know that the police are so stupid and ridiculous!However, a Frenchman like Monsieur—"No, a Belgian," corrected Poirot, but the maid paid no attention to Poirot's correction, and she went on.It can be summed up roughly as follows—Mr. will never stand by and watch me being accused without any reason, while that despicable hotel maid can get away with it without any suspicion.I've never liked the waiter either - a rough blushing thing, a born thief, dishonest I've said from the beginning, and always wary of her, every time she's tidying up the room, I am closely monitoring her!Let the idiots and the police search her, it will be really strange if the mistress's pearl necklace is not found on this person! In spite of the rapidity and urgency of the tirade, again in French, the maid's harsh, hateful words and the profuse gestures throughout made the hotel maid at least partially understand what the woman meant.Her face was flushed with anger: "If the foreign woman said that I stole the pearl necklace, it is a complete and complete lie," she retorted violently, "I have never seen that necklace." "Search her!" screamed another woman, "and you'll find it will be just as I said." "You're a liar, you're a liar—did you hear?" retorted the waitress, "you stole that necklace yourself, and you're trying to plant it on me! Ah, before Madame goes upstairs, I was only in the house for three minutes, but you sat there the whole time, just like you always do, staring like a cat at a mouse." The police officer turned his questioning gaze to the maid again: "Is this true? You never left the room?" "As a matter of fact, I've never left her here alone," admitted the maid reluctantly, "but twice I went through this door to my room—once for a roll of cotton and once for a Scissors. She must have stolen it at that time." "You didn't walk away for a minute," retorted the waitress angrily, "just ran out and came back. If the police actually searched me, I would be very happy, I have nothing to fear." Just then, there was a knock on the door.The officer went to open the door, his face lit up when he saw someone coming. "Ah!" he said, "it was a stroke of luck indeed that I sent for one of our female constables. Perhaps you'd mind going next door with our female investigator who just arrived." He watched the waitress head held high as she crossed the house to the next door, followed by the searchwoman. The French girl sat on her chair and sobbed.Poirot examined the room carefully.I roughly outlined the main furnishings of this room on a sketch. "Where does that door lead to?" he asked, lifting his chin and pointing to the door by the window. "I think it leads to the next suite," said the officer. "Anyway, it's locked from here." Poirot went over, tried the door, then tried the lock again. "The other side is also locked," he said. "Well, that seems to be ruled out." He went to the windows again and examined each window one by one. "Ah, again—nothing. Not a single balcony out there." "If there was one," said the officer impatiently, "if the maid never left the room, I don't see how the window would do us any favors." "Obviously," said Poirot without embarrassment, "as the lady affirms, she did not leave the room—" He stopped, and the hotel maid and the policewoman in charge of the search The staff returned to the room. "Nothing was found." The female police officer said very concisely. "As a matter of fact, there is no hope of discovery at all," said the waitress, with an air of innocence. "That French thief should be ashamed of herself for trying to sully the innocence of an honest girl." "Okay, okay, girl, that's all right," the police officer opened the door, "I don't suspect you anymore, you can go back to your work now." The hotel waitress reluctantly walked away, pointed at the maid and asked, "Do you want to search her?" "Of course, of course." The police officer agreed to take her out and closed the door. The maid followed the female police officer to another room, and after a few minutes, they came out, also finding nothing on her. The officer's face became more serious. "I'm afraid I'm obliged to ask you to come with us, miss." He turned again to Mrs. Oparson. "I'm sorry, madam. But all the evidence shows that if she hadn't hidden the necklace in It must be hidden somewhere in this house." The maid screamed and seized Poirot's arm.Poirot bent down and whispered something in the girl's ear, who looked up at him suspiciously. "My boy—I think you had better not refuse." Then he said to the sergeant, "Sir, will you allow me a little experiment? It is purely for my own personal interest." "That depends on what kind of experiment it is." The police officer said vaguely, unable to decide. Poirot said to the maid again: "You say you went into your room for a roll of cotton; where's the cotton?" "On top of that chest of drawers, sir." "What about the scissors?" "It's on there too." "Miss, if I ask you to repeat these two processes again, is it okay? You said you are sitting here and working?" The maid sat down, then, seeing Poirot's gesture, got up, crossed the room to the adjoining room, took something from the chest of drawers and turned back. Poirot watched her carefully as she ran up and down, and at the same time he looked at the large pocket watch he held in his palm. "If you don't mind, please do it again, miss." With the second run over, he wrote something in his notepad and put the watch back in his pocket. "Thank you, miss. And you, sir,"—he nodded to the inspector—"thank you for your special permission." The Inspector seemed very pleased with his extreme politeness.Accompanied by the female police officer and the police officer in plain clothes, the maid was taken out of the room weeping. The officer then made a brief apology to Mrs. Operson and began searching the room.He opened all the drawers, found a section of the closet, thoroughly turned over the bedding on the bed, and then knocked on the floor; Mr. Oparson stood aside, watching suspiciously. "You really think you can find it?" "Yes, sir, there is reason to believe it. She did not have time to take the necklace out of the room. Madame found out it had been stolen so quickly that she prevented her original plan. Yes, it must have been in the room, the two men One of them must have hidden it - it's unlikely that the hotel maid could have done that." "Not only improbable, but impossible," said Poirot quietly. "Huh?" The police officer narrowed his eyes. Poirot smiled mildly. "Let me demonstrate. Hastings, my good friend, hold my watch—be careful, it's an heirloom! The two rounds I gave to the lady just now are out of date. She It took twelve seconds to leave the house the first time and fifteen seconds the second time. Now, watch me carefully. Madam, please give me the key to the casket. Thank you. My friend Hastings S to give the password." "Go!" I said. Following my words, Poirot opened the dresser drawer with unbelievable speed, took out the jewelry box from inside, inserted the key into the lock, opened the box, picked out a piece of jewelry, and then put the jewelry box again. Close and lock it, put it back in the drawer, and lock the drawer firmly.His movements were as fast as lightning. "How is it, my friend?" he asked me breathlessly. "Forty-six seconds?" I replied. "Do you understand?" He looked at everyone and asked. "The hotel maid would never have had time to remove the necklace, let alone hide it." "Then, the maid must have done this." The police officer resumed his search with a satisfied look on his face, and walked into the maid's room next door. Poirot was frowning and thinking, when suddenly he asked Mr Opason a question. "This necklace—is it undoubtedly insured?" Mr. Oparson found it very strange and thought it was nothing. "Yes," he said hesitantly, "that's right." "But what's the use of that?" interposed Mrs Operson tearfully. "What I want is my necklace. It's unique. It's impossible to get another one just like it." "I understand, madame," said Poirot reassuringly, "that nostalgia is quite normal--is it so? But, sir, if you were not so sentimental, you will no doubt be a little bit on the matter." Feel a little comforted." "Of course, of course," said Mr. Opparson, rather uncertainly, "but—" he was interrupted by a triumphant cheer from the police officer.He was shaking something in his hand, and walked in from the next door. Mrs Operson screamed and jumped out of her chair, as if she were a different person. "Oh, oh, my necklace!" She grabbed the necklace and folded her arms across her chest. "Where did you find it?" "Between the maid's bed and the mattress. She must have stolen it and hid it before the hotel maid came in." "Will you let me see it, Madame?" asked Poirot softly.He took the necklace from her, examined it carefully, and returned it to Mrs Opason with a slight bow. "I'm afraid you'll have to give it to us some time, ma'am," said the sergeant, "for it will be used as evidence in our proceedings, but it will be returned to you as soon as possible." Mr Operson frowned. "Is that necessary?" "I'm afraid so, sir. It's a matter of routine." "Oh, let him take it, Ed!" his wife yelled. "I'd feel safer if he took it. I couldn't even sleep at the thought that someone might steal it again. That damned girl! I'll never trust her again." "Okay, okay, my dear, stop making such a fuss." I felt someone tap me on the arm, and looking back, it was Poirot. "We must go, my friend, I think we are no longer needed here." But outside the door, he hesitated, and then, very much to my surprise, he said to me: "I'd like to see the room next door." The door was unlocked, so we went in.The room was twice as large as Mrs. Oparson's bedroom, and it was deserted, and the dust was everywhere.When my sensitive friend drew a square with his finger on the table near the window, he made a strange face. "It's still necessary for us to be here," he observed calmly. He looked out the window thoughtfully, frowning as if lost in thought. "Well," I asked impatiently, "what are we doing here?" "Excuse me, my dear friend," he said, "but I wanted to see if the door was locked here too." "Oh." I replied, and looked up at the door connected to the room we just left. It was locked. Poirot nodded, as if still in thought. "Anyway," I went on, "what does it matter? The case is closed, and I wish you had more other opportunities to show your talents. But a case like this one is like An idiot like that stiff, arrogant police officer can't be mistaken." Poirot shook his head. "The case is not closed, my friend. It cannot be said to be closed until we have established who stole the necklace." "But, it was the maid who did it!" "Why do you say that?" "Why?" I faltered. "The necklace was found—literally on her bed." "There, there!" said Poirot impatiently. "It is not the real pearl necklace that has been found." "what?" "It's an imitation, my dear friend." His words left me breathless, and Poirot continued to smile calmly. "That kind police officer obviously doesn't know anything about jewellery. But there's going to be a lot of fun right now!" "Come with me!" I yelled, grabbing his arm. "where to?" "We should tell the Opersons at once." "I do not think so." "But that poor woman—" "My God, as you say, that poor woman will have a very good evening if she believes that the pearl necklace is safe and sound." "But the man who stole the necklace might have run away with it!" "As usual, my friend, you speak without thinking, and how do you know that the pearl necklace that Mrs. Oparson locked in her jewelry box this evening is not a fake; how do you know the real one?" Didn't the theft happen earlier?" "Ah!" I was puzzled. "It must be so," said Poirot excitedly. "We shall begin now." He led me out of the room, paused as if thinking about something, and strode down the corridor.When I came to the waiter's lounge, I stopped. The waiters and waitresses in each room were gathering together. Obviously, the waitress was talking to everyone, as if she was repeating her previous experience, and everyone else showed admiration. Listen attentively.In the middle of her speech she stopped because Poirot bowed politely to her, as usual. "Excuse me for interrupting, but would you please help me open the door to Mr Opason's bedroom?" The woman stood up willingly, and we followed her down the corridor again.Mr. Oparson's room was on the other side of the corridor from his wife's bedroom.The maid opened the door with her spare key and we walked in. When she was about to leave, Poirot called to her. "Just a moment, please. Have you ever seen one of these cards from Mr. Operson?" He held out a white business card with a sharp, unusual appearance, and the waitress took it and looked at it carefully. "No, sir, I haven't seen it. But it's the bellman who comes most often to Mr Opason's room." "I see, thank you." Poirot withdrew his card, and the woman left.Poirot thought for a moment, then gave a slight nod of satisfaction. "Ring that bell for me, Hastings, please. Three times, and let the boy come up." I obeyed, but my heart was full of curiosity and doubts.At the same moment, Poirot quickly dumped the wastebasket on the ground, and took a quick look at its contents. After a while, the waiter came in, Poirot asked him the same question, and showed him the same card. His answer was the same as that of the waitress. There is such a special business card among the items brought.Poirot thanked him, and as he was about to leave, he saw the overturned wastebasket and the mess lying on the floor.He was displeased to put the rubbish into the wastebasket, and it was not difficult for him to hear Poirot's thoughtful casual words: "The insurance premium for that necklace is very high..." "Poirot," I called out. said, "I see—" "You don't see anything, my friend," he said quickly, "as usual, see nothing! It's unbelievable—but the fact is that So. Let us go back to our own rooms." We walked back in silence, and Poirot changed unexpectedly on our way to the room. "I'm going to London this evening," he explained. "There's no delay in this matter." "what?" "Absolutely, what an audacity. Ah, what a clever little head. That's what it is. I'm going to find evidence to confirm my idea, and I'll find it! To deceive Hercule. Poirot is impossible." "You're going to be a pompous farmer someday." I was rather disgusted by his ego. "Don't be angry, I beg you, my dear friend. I'm counting on you to do something for me out of our friendship." "Of course," I said eagerly, ashamed of my bad temper just now, "What's up?" "Can you help me brush the sleeves of that dress I just took off? You see, some white powder is on it. You must have seen me paint it with my fingers on that dresser drawer." "No, I didn't notice." "You ought to watch what I do, my friend. So I got a little powder on my fingers, and in a moment of excitement I rubbed it on my sleeve, and I regret my disorderly habits. Regrettably - this is contrary to my usual prudence." "But what is that powder?" I was not particularly interested in Poirot's so-called consistent principles. "It's not poison," said Poirot, blinking. "I can see that your imagination has been set in motion again. I should have told you it was talcum powder." "talcum powder?" "Yes, the furniture makers use talcum powder to make the drawers smooth." I laughed. "You bastard! I thought you had thought of something crucial." "Goodbye, my friend. I'm protecting myself, I'm leaving!" He closed the door and left.Partly out of ridicule, partly out of friendship, I picked up the dress Poirot had left behind, and reached for the clothes-brush. The next morning, without any news from Poirot, I went out for a walk on my own, met some old friends, and had lunch with them at their lodgings.In the afternoon, we went for a drive together, but we were delayed for some time because the tires were scratched.When I returned to the "Metropolis" hotel, it was already past eight o'clock. Back in the room, Poirot was the first to be seen, looking more alert than ever but also shorter. He was flushed and sat contentedly between the Opersons, eating a sandwich. "My dear friend, Hastings!" he cried, rising to meet me. "Hug me, my friend, for the investigation is so splendidly done!" Fortunately, the so-called hugs are only symbolic. "You mean—" I asked. "Excellent, I think so!" said Mrs Operson with a grin on her fat face. "Didn't I tell you, Ed? If he can't help me get my pearl necklace back, no one can." won't find it." "You said it, my dear, you did, and now you are proved right." I looked at Poirot blankly, and he explained: "My friend Hastings, 'still ignorant of everything', as you Britons say, sit down first, and I will tell you how the whole thing came to be, and how it ended so beautifully .""ending?" "Ah, yes, they're under arrest." "Who's been arrested?" "The hotel maid and the barman. Of course! Didn't you suspect them? Didn't you get any hints and inspiration from my experiments with talcum powder?" "You're saying that the furniture maker used talcum powder." "Of course they do - to make the drawers slide and open easier when customers buy furniture. And now someone wants a drawer to open and close without any sound, who can do that? Obviously, only the The hotel maid. The plan is so clever that it cannot be seen through at a glance—even Hercule Poirot's eyes could not see through it." "Listen, here's what happened. The waiter has been waiting in the empty room separated from this door. When the French maid left the room, the waitress quickly opened the drawer and took out the Jewelry box, unlock the door, and pass the jewelry box through the door. The waiter used a duplicate key—he had already prepared it—to open the jewelry box with plenty of time, took out the pearl necklace, and then Waiting for the opportunity. Wait until the maid leaves the room again, whoa! "When the lady came, she found that the necklace had been stolen. The waitress asked for a body search, made an innocent and dignified appearance, and was allowed to leave the room without the slightest suspicion. The imitation necklace they had prepared in advance Necklace, hidden under the French maid's bed by the waitress in the morning - perfect and wonderful, ha!" "Then what are you doing in London?" "Do you remember that business card?" "Of course I do. It puzzled me--and still doesn't. I also thought--" I hesitated, and cast a glance at Mr. Opparson. Poirot laughed happily. "Just kidding! It's all about investigating the barman. The name-handling is elaborate, and its surface has been specially treated - for fingerprints. I rushed all the way to Scotland Yard and asked our old friend Jia Inspector General to help. I told him what happened. As I suspected, these prints turned out to be those of two jewel thieves who were already wanted. Japp and I came here together, and the two thieves Arrested. The necklace was found in the barman's suit. Very clever couple, but they failed in the details of implementation. I told you no, at least at thirty-six地方出了漏洞，不讲究细节操作——”“至少是三万六千个细节上出现了漏洞也行！”我打断他说，“可是他们在哪些细节上出了漏洞？” “我亲爱的朋友，作一个酒店女服务员或是男服务员都是一个很好的计划——但是不可以逃避自己的工作责任，他们留了一间空房没有打扫，因此，当那男服务员把首饰盒放在靠近那扇门的那张小桌子上的时候，首饰盒就在桌面上留下了一个方方正正的痕迹——”“我想起来了！”我叫道。 “在此之前，我还拿不准，然后——我恍然大悟了！” 接下来的是一段沉默。 “我找回了我的珍珠项链。”奥帕森夫人唱歌一样地说。 “好，”我说，“我最好去吃点晚饭。” 波洛陪着我。 “这对你来说应该得到荣誉和奖赏。”我说。 “一点也不，”波洛回答说，“贾普和那位警官分享了这项荣誉。不过——”他拍了拍他的口袋——“我从奥帕森先生那里得到了这张支票。你怎么说，我的朋友？这个周末我们没有好好度假，下个周末我们再来一次怎么样——下次由我来付账。”