Знак четырех

III. In Quest of a Solution

           Wehadhardlyreachedthethirdpillar,whichwasourrendezvous,beforeasmall,dark,briskmaninthedressofacoachmanaccostedus.

           “AreyouthepartieswhocomewithMissMorstan?”heasked.

           “IamMissMorstan,andthesetwogentlemenaremyfriends,”saidshe.

           Hebentapairofwonderfullypenetratingandquestioningeyesuponus.“Youwillexcuseme,miss,”hesaidwithacertaindoggedmanner,“butIwastoaskyoutogivemeyourwordthatneitherofyourcompanionsisapolice-officer.”

           “Igiveyoumywordonthat,”sheanswered.

           Hegaveashrillwhistle,onwhichastreetArabledacrossafour-wheelerandopenedthedoor.Themanwhohadaddressedusmountedtothebox,whilewetookourplacesinside.Wehadhardlydonesobeforethedriverwhippeduphishorse,andweplungedawayatafuriouspacethroughthefoggystreets.

           Thesituationwasacuriousone.Weweredrivingtoanunknownplace,onanunknownerrand.Yetourinvitationwaseitheracompletehoax,—whichwasaninconceivablehypothesis,—orelsewehadgoodreasontothinkthatimportantissuesmighthanguponourjourney.MissMorstan’sdemeanorwasasresoluteandcollectedasever.IendeavoredtocheerandamuseherbyreminiscencesofmyadventuresinAfghanistan;but,totellthetruth,Iwasmyselfsoexcitedatoursituationandsocuriousastoourdestinationthatmystorieswereslightlyinvolved.TothisdayshedeclaresthatItoldheronemovinganecdoteastohowamusketlookedintomytentatthedeadofnight,andhowIfiredadouble-barrelledtigercubatit.

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