the sign of the four(那四个的记号)-第11章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃There； now！ Didn't I tell you！〃 cried the poor little man； throwing
out his hands； and looking from one to the other of us。
〃Don't trouble yourself about it； Mr。 Sholto；〃 said Holmes。 〃I think
that I can engage to clear you of the charge。〃
〃Don't promise too much； Mr。 Theorist；don't promise too much！〃
snapped the detective。 〃You may find it a harder matter than you think。〃
〃Not only will I clear him； Mr。 Jones； but I will make you a free
present of the name and description of one of the two people who were in
this room last night。 His name； I have every reason to believe； is
Jonathan Small。 He is a poorly…educated man； small； active； with his
right leg off； and wearing a wooden stump which is worn away upon the
inner side。 His left boot has a coarse； square…toed sole； with an iron band
round the heel。 He is a middle…aged man； much sunburned； and has been
a convict。 These few indications may be of some assistance to you；
44
… Page 45…
The Sign of the Four
coupled with the fact that there is a good deal of skin missing from the
palm of his hand。 The other man〃
〃Ah！ the other man？〃 asked Athelney Jones； in a sneering voice； but
impressed none the less； as I could easily see； by the precision of the
other's manner。
〃Is a rather curious person；〃 said Sherlock Holmes； turning upon his
heel。 〃I hope before very long to be able to introduce you to the pair of
them。A word with you； Watson。〃
He led me out to the head of the stair。 〃This unexpected occurrence；〃
he said； 〃has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our
journey。〃
〃I have just been thinking so；〃 I answered。 〃It is not right that Miss
Morstan should remain in this stricken house。〃
〃No。 You must escort her home。 She lives with Mrs。 Cecil
Forrester； in Lower Camberwell： so it is not very far。 I will wait for
you here if you will drive out again。 Or perhaps you are too tired？〃
〃By no means。 I don't think I could rest until I know more of this
fantastic business。 I have seen something of the rough side of life； but I
give you my word that this quick succession of strange surprises to…night
has shaken my nerve completely。 I should like； however； to see the
matter through with you； now that I have got so far。〃
〃Your presence will be of great service to me；〃 he answered。 〃We
shall work the case out independently； and leave this fellow Jones to exult
over any mare's…nest which he may choose to construct。 When you have
dropped Miss Morstan I wish you to go on to No。 3 Pinchin Lane； down
near the water's edge at Lambeth。 The third house on the right…hand side
is a bird…stuffer's： Sherman is the name。 You will see a weasel holding
a young rabbit in the window。 Knock old Sherman up； and tell him； with
my compliments； that I want Toby at once。 You will bring Toby back in
the cab with you。〃
〃A dog； I suppose。〃
〃Yes；a queer mongrel； with a most amazing power of scent。 I
would rather have Toby's help than that of the whole detective force of
London。〃
45
… Page 46…
The Sign of the Four
〃I shall bring him； then；〃 said I。 〃It is one now。 I ought to be back
before three； if I can get a fresh horse。〃
〃And I；〃 said Holmes； 〃shall see what I can learn from Mrs。 Bernstone；
and from the Indian servant； who； Mr。 Thaddeus tell me； sleeps in the next
garret。 Then I shall study the great Jones's methods and listen to his not
too delicate sarcasms。 'Wir sind gewohnt das die Menschen verhoehnen
was sie nicht verstehen。' Goethe is always pithy。〃
46
… Page 47…
The Sign of the Four
CHAPTER VII The Episode of the
Barrel
The police had brought a cab with them； and in this I escorted Miss
Morstan back to her home。 After the angelic fashion of women； she had
borne trouble with a calm face as long as there was some one weaker than
herself to support； and I had found her bright and placid by the side of the
frightened housekeeper。 In the cab； however； she first turned faint； and
then burst into a passion of weeping；so sorely had she been tried by the
adventures of the night。 She has told me since that she thought me cold
and distant upon that journey。 She little guessed the struggle within my
breast； or the effort of self…restraint which held me back。 My sympathies
and my love went out to her； even as my hand had in the garden。 I felt
that years of the conventionalities of life could not teach me to know her
sweet； brave nature as had this one day of strange experiences。 Yet there
were two thoughts which sealed the words of affection upon my lips。
She was weak and helpless； shaken in mind and nerve。 It was to take her
at a disadvantage to obtrude love upon her at such a time。 Worse still；
she was rich。 If Holmes's researches were successful； she would be an
heiress。 Was it fair； was it honorable； that a half…pay surgeon should take
such advantage of an intimacy which chance had brought about？ Might
she not look upon me as a mere vulgar fortune…seeker？ I could not bear
to risk that such a thought should cross her mind。 This Agra treasure
intervened like an impassable barrier between us。
It was nearly two o'clock when we reached Mrs。 Cecil Forrester's。
The servants had retired hours ago； but Mrs。 Forrester had been so
interested by the strange message which Miss Morstan had received that
she had sat up in the hope of her return。 She opened the door herself； a
middle…aged； graceful woman； and it gave me joy to see how tenderly her
arm stole round the other's waist and how motherly was the voice in which
she greeted her。 She was clearly no mere paid dependant； but an honored
friend。 I was introduced； and Mrs。 Forrester earnestly begged me to step
47
… Page 48…
The Sign of the Four
in and tell her our adventures。 I explained； however； the importance of
my errand； and promised faithfully to call and report any progress which
we might make with the case。 As we drove away I stole a glance back；
and I still seem to see that little group on the step； the two graceful；
clinging figures； the half…opened door； the hall light shining through
stained glass； the barometer； and the bright stair…rods。 It was soothing to
catch even that passing glimpse of a tranquil English home in the midst of
the wild； dark business which had absorbed us。
And the more I thought of what had happened； the wilder and darker it
grew。 I reviewed the whole extraordinary sequence of events as I rattled
on through the silent gas…lit streets。 There was the original problem：
that at least was pretty clear now。 The death of Captain Morstan； the
sending of the pearls； the advertisement； the letter；we had had light upon
all those events。 They had only led us； however； to a deeper and far more
tragic mystery。 The Indian treasure； the curious plan found among
Morstan's baggage； the strange scene at Major Sholto's death； the
rediscovery of the treasure immediately followed by the murder of the
discoverer； the very singular accompaniments to the crime； the footsteps；
the remarkable weapons； the words upon the card； corresponding with
those upon Captain Morstan's chart；here was indeed a labyrinth in which
a man less singularly endowed than my fellow…lodger might well despair
of ever finding the clue。
Pinchin Lane was a row of shabby two…storied brick houses in the
lower quarter of Lambeth。 I had to knock for some time at No。 3 before I
could make my impression。 At last； however； there was the glint of a
candle behind the blind； and a face looked out at the upper window。
〃Go on； you drunken vagabone；〃 said the face。 〃If you kick up any
more row I'll open the kennels and let out forty…three dogs upon you。〃
〃If you'll let one out it's just what I have come for；〃 said I。
〃Go on！〃 yelled the voice。 〃So help me gracious； I have a wiper in
the bag； an' I'll drop it on your 'ead if you don't hook it。〃
〃But I want a dog；〃 I cried。
〃I won't be argued with！〃 shouted Mr。 Sherman。 〃Now stand clear；
for when I say 'three；' down goes the wiper。〃
48
… Page 49…
The Sign of the Four
〃Mr。 Sherlock Holmes〃 I began； but the words had a most magical
effect； for the window instantly slammed down； and within a minute the
door was unbarred and open。 Mr。 Sherman was a lanky； lean old man；
with stooping shoulders； a stringy neck； and blue… tinted glasses。
〃A friend of Mr。 Sherlock is always welcome；〃 said he。 〃Step in； sir。
Keep clear of the badger； for he bites。 Ah； naughty； naughty； would you
take a nip at the gentleman？〃 This to a stoat which thrust its wicked head
and red eyes between the bars of its cage。 〃Don't mind that； sir： it's
only a slow…worm。 It hain't got no fangs； so I gives it the run o' the room；
for it keeps the bettles down。 You must not mind my bein' just a little
short wi' you at first； for I'm guyed at by the children； and there's many a
one just comes down this lane to knock me up。 What was it that Mr。
Sherlock Holmes wanted； sir？〃
〃He wanted a dog of yours。〃
〃Ah！ that would be Toby。〃
〃Yes； Toby was the
