Знак четырех
XII. The Strange Story of Jonathan Small
Ihurriedatoncetothegarden,madthatheshouldslipoutofmyclutcheslikethat,and,lookingthroughthewindow,Isawhimlyinginhisbed,withhissonsoneachsideofhim.I’dhavecomethroughandtakenmychancewiththethreeofthem,onlyevenasIlookedathimhisjawdropped,andIknewthathewasgone.Igotintohisroomthatsamenight,though,andIsearchedhispaperstoseeiftherewasanyrecordofwherehehadhiddenourjewels.Therewasnotaline,however:soIcameaway,bitterandsavageasamancouldbe.BeforeIleftIbethoughtmethatifIevermetmySikhfriendsagainitwouldbeasatisfactiontoknowthatIhadleftsomemarkofourhatred;soIscrawleddownthesignofthefourofus,asithadbeenonthechart,andIpinneditonhisbosom.Itwastoomuchthatheshouldbetakentothegravewithoutsometokenfromthemenwhomhehadrobbedandbefooled.
“WeearnedalivingatthistimebymyexhibitingpoorTongaatfairsandothersuchplacesastheblackcannibal.Hewouldeatrawmeatanddancehiswar-dance:sowealwayshadahatfulofpenniesafteraday’swork.IstillheardallthenewsfromPondicherryLodge,andforsomeyearstherewasnonewstohear,exceptthattheywerehuntingforthetreasure.Atlast,however,camewhatwehadwaitedforsolong.Thetreasurehadbeenfound.Itwasupatthetopofthehouse,inMr.BartholomewSholto’schemicallaboratory.Icameatonceandhadalookattheplace,butIcouldnotseehowwithmywoodenlegIwastomakemywayuptoit.Ilearned,however,aboutatrap-doorintheroof,andalsoaboutMr.
