Знак четырех
XI. The Great Agra Treasure
Idon’tfeelnomaliceagainstyouforit.Butitdoesseemaqueerthing,”headded,withabittersmile,“thatIwhohaveafairclaimtonighuponhalfamillionofmoneyshouldspendthefirsthalfofmylifebuildingabreakwaterintheAndamans,andamliketospendtheotherhalfdiggingdrainsatDartmoor.ItwasanevildayformewhenfirstIclappedeyesuponthemerchantAchmetandhadtodowiththeAgratreasure,whichneverbroughtanythingbutacurseyetuponthemanwhoownedit.Tohimitbroughtmurder,toMajorSholtoitbroughtfearandguilt,tomeithasmeantslaveryforlife.”
AtthismomentAthelneyJonesthrusthisbroadfaceandheavyshouldersintothetinycabin.“Quiteafamilyparty,”heremarked.“IthinkIshallhaveapullatthatflask,Holmes.Well,Ithinkwemayallcongratulateeachother.Pitywedidn’ttaketheotheralive;buttherewasnochoice.Isay,Holmes,youmustconfessthatyoucutitratherfine.Itwasallwecoulddotooverhaulher.”
“Alliswellthatendswell,”saidHolmes.“ButIcertainlydidnotknowthattheAurorawassuchaclipper.”
“Smithsayssheisoneofthefastestlaunchesontheriver,andthatifhehadhadanothermantohelphimwiththeenginesweshouldneverhavecaughther.HeswearsheknewnothingofthisNorwoodbusiness.”
“Neitherhedid,”criedourprisoner,—“notaword.IchosehislaunchbecauseIheardthatshewasaflier.Wetoldhimnothing,butwepaidhimwell,andhewastogetsomethinghandsomeifwereachedourvessel,theEsmeralda,atGravesend,outwardboundfortheBrazils.
