Знак четырех
XII. The Strange Story of Jonathan Small
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“‘ThenmycomradeandIwillswearthatyoushallhaveaquarterofthetreasurewhichshallbeequallydividedamongthefourofus.’
“‘Therearebutthree,’saidI.
“‘No;DostAkbarmusthavehisshare.Wecantellthetaletoyouwhileweawaitthem.Doyoustandatthegate,MahometSingh,andgivenoticeoftheircoming.Thethingstandsthus,Sahib,andItellittoyoubecauseIknowthatanoathisbindinguponaFeringhee,andthatwemaytrustyou.HadyoubeenalyingHindoo,thoughyouhadswornbyallthegodsintheirfalsetemples,yourbloodwouldhavebeenupontheknife,andyourbodyinthewater.ButtheSikhknowstheEnglishman,andtheEnglishmanknowstheSikh.Hearken,then,towhatIhavetosay.
“‘Thereisarajahinthenorthernprovinceswhohasmuchwealth,thoughhislandsaresmall.Muchhascometohimfromhisfather,andmorestillhehassetbyhimself,forheisofalownatureandhoardshisgoldratherthanspendit.Whenthetroublesbrokeouthewouldbefriendsbothwiththelionandthetiger,—withtheSepoyandwiththeCompany’sRaj.Soon,however,itseemedtohimthatthewhitemen’sdaywascome,forthroughallthelandhecouldhearofnothingbutoftheirdeathandtheiroverthrow.Yet,beingacarefulman,hemadesuchplansthat,comewhatmight,halfatleastofhistreasureshouldbelefttohim.
