Знак четырех
X. The End of the Islander
IthenreflectedthatsincehehadcertainlybeeninLondonsometime—aswehadevidencethathemaintainedacontinualwatchoverPondicherryLodge—hecouldhardlyleaveatamoment’snotice,butwouldneedsomelittletime,ifitwereonlyaday,toarrangehisaffairs.Thatwasthebalanceofprobability,atanyrate.”
“Itseemstometobealittleweak,”saidI.“Itismoreprobablethathehadarrangedhisaffairsbeforeeverhesetoutuponhisexpedition.”
“No,Ihardlythinkso.Thislairofhiswouldbetoovaluablearetreatincaseofneedforhimtogiveitupuntilhewassurethathecoulddowithoutit.Butasecondconsiderationstruckme.JonathanSmallmusthavefeltthatthepeculiarappearanceofhiscompanion,howevermuchhemayhavetop-coatedhim,wouldgiverisetogossip,andpossiblybeassociatedwiththisNorwoodtragedy.Hewasquitesharpenoughtoseethat.Theyhadstartedfromtheirhead-quartersundercoverofdarkness,andhewouldwishtogetbackbeforeitwasbroadlight.Now,itwaspastthreeo’clock,accordingtoMrs.Smith,whentheygottheboat.Itwouldbequitebright,andpeoplewouldbeaboutinanhourorso.Therefore,Iargued,theydidnotgoveryfar.TheypaidSmithwelltoholdhistongue,reservedhislaunchforthefinalescape,andhurriedtotheirlodgingswiththetreasure-box.
