The Hidden Staircase Chapter V Part 1

 

A Puzzling Interview

Percakapan yang penuh teka-teki

FOR SEVERAL seconds Nathan Comber stared at Nancy in disbelief. "You!" he cried out finally.

Sedetik Nathan Comber menatap Nancy dengan tidak percaya. “Kamu!” seketika Nanthan Comber seru.

"You didn't expect to find me here, did you?" she asked coolly.

“Anda tidak mengira bertemu saya di sini, kan? Nancy bertanya dengan tenang.

"I certainly didn't. I thought you'd taken my advice and stayed with your father. Young people today are so hardhearted!" Comber wagged his head in disgust.

“Tentu saja tidak. Ku kira kamu mengikuti saran ku dan tetap bersama ayahmu. Anak muda sekarang keras kepala sekali!” Comber menggelengkan kepalanya dengan muak.

Nancy ignored Comber's remarks.

Nancy mengacuhkan terguran si Comber.

Shrugging, the man pushed his way into the hall. "I know this. If anything happens to your father, you'll never forgive yourself. But you can't blame Nathan Comber! I warned you!"

Mengangkat bahu, lelaki itu lanjut berjalan menuju lorong rumah. “Aku sudah menduga. Jika sesuatu terjadi pada ayahmu, kamu tak akan pernaf memaafkan dirimu sendiri. Tapi tidak bisa menyalahkan Nathan Comber! Ku peringatkan kamu!”

Still Nancy made no reply. She kept looking at him steadily, trying to figure out what was really in his mind. She was convinced it was not solicitude for her father.

Nancy masih tidak membalas. Dia tetap melihat lelaki itu dengan waspada, mencoba menebak apa yang ada di pikirannya. Nancy telah yakin tidak usah khawatir akan ayahnya.

Nathan Comber changed the subject abruptly. "I'd like to see Mrs. Turnbull and Mrs. Hayes," he said. "Go call them."

Nathan Comber tiba-tiba merubah arah pembicaraan.”Aku ingin bertemu Nyonya Turnbull dan Nyonya Hayes, “katanya. “Pergi panggilkan mereka.”

Nancy was annoyed by Comber's crudeness, but she turned around and went down the hall to the dining room.

Nancy terganggu dengan ketidaksopanan Comber, tapi dia berbalik dan menyusuri lorong rumah menuju ruang makan.

"We heard every word," Miss Flora said in a whisper. "I shan't see Mr. Comber. I don't want to sell this house."

“Kami mendengar setiap kata,” bisik Nona Flora. “Aku sebaiknya tidak bertemu Tuan Comber. Aku tak ingin menjual rumah ini.”

Nancy was amazed to hear this. "You mean he's the person who wants to buy it?"

Nancy terkejut mendengar hal ini. “Maksud anda lelaki itu adalah orang yang ingin membelinya?”

"Yes."

“Iya.”

Instantly Nancy was on the alert. Because of the nature of the railroad deal in which Nathan Comber was involved, she was distrustful of his motives in wanting to buy Twin Elms. It flashed through her mind that perhaps he was trying to buy it at a very low price and planned to sell it off in building lots at a huge profit.

Seketika Nancy bersiaga. Karena Nathan Comber wajar terlibat dengan perjanjian rel kereta api, Nancy mencurigai motif lelaki itu membeli Twin Elms. Terlintas di pikirannya jika mungkin saja lelaki itu mencoba membeli Twin Elms dengan harga sangat rendah dan berencana menjualnya ke komplek gedung-gedung bertingkat dengan keuntungan sangat besar.

"Suppose I go tell him you don't want to sell," Nancy suggested in a low voice. But her caution was futile. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned to see Comber standing in the doorway.

“Bisa kah aku bilang ke lelaki itu anda tidak ingin menjualnya,”saran Nancy dengan suara lirih. Kehati-hatian Nancy sia-sia. Mendengar langkah kaki di belakangnya, dia berbalik untuk melihat Comber berdiri di jalan masuk.

"Howdy, everybody!" he said.

“Apa kabar, semua!” kata Nanthan Comber.

Miss Flora, Aunt Rosemary, and Helen showed annoyance. It was plain that all of them thought the man completely lacking in good manners.

Nona Flora, bibi Rosemary, dan Helen terlihat kesal. Terlihat jelas mereka semua berpikir lelaki itu benar-benar kurang sopan santun.

Aunt Rosemary's jaw was set in a grim line, but she said politely, "Helen, this is Mr. Comber. Mr. Comber, my niece, Miss Corning."

Nona Rosemary memasang mimik wajah suram, tapi berkata sopan,”Helen, ini Tuan Chomber. Tuan Comber ini, keponakan saya, Nona Corning.”

"Pleased to meet you," said their caller, extending a hand to shake Helen's.

“Senang bertemu dengan anda,”sapa Nathan Comber, lanjut bersalaman dengan Helen.

"Nancy, I guess you've met Mr. Comber," Aunt Rosemary went on.

“Nancy, aku rasa kamu pernah bertemu Tuan Chomber,” lanjut nona Rosemary.

"Oh, sure!" Nathan Comber said with a somewhat raucous laugh. "Nancy and me, we've met!"

“Oh, tentu saja!” Nathan Comber berkata disertai tawa yang parau. “Nancy dan aku, pernah bertemu!”

"Only once," Nancy said pointedly.

“Hanya sekali,” kata Nancy tajam.

Ignoring her rebuff, he went on, "Nancy Drew is a very strange young lady. Her father's in great danger and I tried to warn her to stick close to him. Instead of that, she's out here visiting you folks."

Mengabaikan penolakan kasar dari Nancy, lelaki itu melanjutkan, “Nancy Drew adalah wanita yang sangat aneh. Ayahnya dalam bahaya besar dan aku mencoba memperingati dirinya untuk tetap berada dekat ayahnya. Melainkan, dia pergi mengunjungi orang-orang di sini.”

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