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6.31. Wprowadzenie do ActiveX i projektowania kontrolek ActiveX
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.WhenHenry Gratham lay under eight feet of Congo earth (he was killedby an elephant whilst on a hunting trip) his executors had beensingularly fortunate in finding an immediate purchaser.Rumourhad it that Kara, who was no lover of wine, had bricked up thecellars, and their very existence passed into domestic legendary.The door was opened by a well-dressed and deferential man-servantand T.X.was ushered into the hall.A fire burnt cheerily in abronze grate and T.X.had a glimpse of a big oil painting of Karaabove the marble mantle-piece."Mr.Kara is very busy, sir," said the man."Just take in my card," said T.X."I think he may care to seeme."The man bowed, produced from some mysterious corner a silversalver and glided upstairs in that manner which well-trainedservants have, a manner which seems to call for no bodily effort.In a minute he returned."Will you come this way, sir," he said, and led the way up a broadflight of stairs.At the head of the stairs was a corridor which ran to the left andto the right.From this there gave four rooms.One at theextreme end of the passage on the right, one on the left, and twoat fairly regular intervals in the centre.When the man's hand was on one of the doors, T.X.asked quietly,"I think I have seen you before somewhere, my friend."The man smiled."It is very possible, sir.I was a waiter at the Constitutionalfor some time."T.X.nodded."That is where it must have been," he said.The man opened the door and announced the visitor.T.X.found himself in a large room, very handsomely furnished,but just lacking that sense of cosiness and comfort which is thefeature of the Englishman's home.Kara rose from behind a big writing table, and came with a smileand a quick step to greet the visitor."This is a most unexpected pleasure," he said, and shook handswarmly.T.X.had not seen him for a year and found very little change inthis strange young man.He could not be more confident than hehad been, nor bear himself with a more graceful carriage.Whatever social success he had achieved, it had not spoiled him,for his manner was as genial and easy as ever."I think that will do, Miss Holland," he said, turning to the girlwho, with notebook in hand, stood by the desk."Evidently," thought T.X.,"our Hellenic friend has a pretty tastein secretaries."In that one glance he took her all in - from the bronze-brown ofher hair to her neat foot.T.X.was not readily attracted by members of the opposite sex.He was self-confessed a predestined bachelor, finding life and itsincidence too absorbing to give his whole mind to the seriousproblem of marriage, or to contract responsibilities and interestswhich might divert his attention from what he believed was thegreater game.Yet he must be a man of stone to resist thefreshness, the beauty and the youth of this straight, slendergirl; the pink-and-whiteness of her, the aliveness and buoyancyand the thrilling sense of vitality she carried in her verypresence."What is the weirdest name you have ever heard?" asked Karalaughingly."I ask you, because Miss Holland and I have beendiscussing a begging letter addressed to us by a Maggie Goomer."The girl smiled slightly and in that smile was paradise, thoughtT.X."The weirdest name?" he repeated, "why I think the worst I haveheard for a long time is Belinda Mary.""That has a familiar ring," said Kara.T.X.was looking at the girl.She was staring at him with a certain languid insolence which madehim curl up inside.Then with a glance at her employer she sweptfrom the room."I ought to have introduced you," said Kara."That was mysecretary, Miss Holland.Rather a pretty girl, isn't she?""Very," said T.X.,recovering his breath."I like pretty things around me," said Kara, and somehow thecomplacency of the remark annoyed the detective more than anythingthat Kara had ever said to him.The Greek went to the mantlepiece, and taking down a silvercigarette box, opened and offered it to his visitor.Kara waswearing a grey lounge suit; and although grey is a very tryingcolour for a foreigner to wear, this suit fitted his splendidfigure and gave him just that bulk which he needed."You are a most suspicious man, Mr.Meredith," he smiled [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
