Знак четырех
XII. The Strange Story of Jonathan Small
“Afittingwind-uptoanextremelyinterestingcase.Thereisnothingatallnewtomeinthelatterpartofyournarrative,exceptthatyoubroughtyourownrope.ThatIdidnotknow.Bytheway,IhadhopedthatTongahadlostallhisdarts;yethemanagedtoshootoneatusintheboat.”
“Hehadlostthemall,sir,excepttheonewhichwasinhisblow-pipeatthetime.”
“Ah,ofcourse,”saidHolmes.“Ihadnotthoughtofthat.”
“Isthereanyotherpointwhichyouwouldliketoaskabout?”askedtheconvict,affably.
“Ithinknot,thankyou,”mycompanionanswered.
“Well,Holmes,”saidAthelneyJones,“Youareamantobehumoured,andweallknowthatyouareaconnoisseurofcrime,butdutyisduty,andIhavegoneratherfarindoingwhatyouandyourfriendaskedme.Ishallfeelmoreateasewhenwehaveourstory-tellerheresafeunderlockandkey.Thecabstillwaits,andtherearetwoinspectorsdownstairs.Iammuchobligedtoyoubothforyourassistance.Ofcourseyouwillbewantedatthetrial.Good-nighttoyou.”
“Good-night,gentlemenboth,”saidJonathanSmall.
“Youfirst,Small,”remarkedthewaryJonesastheylefttheroom.“I’lltakeparticularcarethatyoudon’tclubmewithyourwoodenleg,whateveryoumayhavedonetothegentlemanattheAndamanIsles.”
“Well,andthereistheendofourlittledrama,”Iremarked,afterwehadsetsometimesmokinginsilence.“IfearthatitmaybethelastinvestigationinwhichIshallhavethechanceofstudyingyourmethods.MissMorstanhasdonemethehonourtoacceptmeasahusbandinprospective.
