Знак четырех
VII. The Episode of the Barrel
TheIndiantreasure,thecuriousplanfoundamongMorstan’sbaggage,thestrangesceneatMajorSholto’sdeath,therediscoveryofthetreasureimmediatelyfollowedbythemurderofthediscoverer,theverysingularaccompanimentstothecrime,thefootsteps,theremarkableweapons,thewordsuponthecard,correspondingwiththoseuponCaptainMorstan’schart,—herewasindeedalabyrinthinwhichamanlesssingularlyendowedthanmyfellow-lodgermightwelldespairofeverfindingtheclue.
PinchinLanewasarowofshabbytwo-storiedbrickhousesinthelowerquarterofLambeth.IhadtoknockforsometimeatNo.3beforeIcouldmakemyimpression.Atlast,however,therewastheglintofacandlebehindtheblind,andafacelookedoutattheupperwindow.
“Goon,youdrunkenvagabone,”saidtheface.“IfyoukickupanymorerowI’llopenthekennelsandletoutforty-threedogsuponyou.”
“Ifyou’llletoneoutit’sjustwhatIhavecomefor,”saidI.
“Goon!”yelledthevoice.“Sohelpmegracious,Ihaveawiperinthebag,an’I’lldropitonyour’eadifyoudon’thookit.”
“ButIwantadog,”Icried.
“Iwon’tbearguedwith!”shoutedMr.Sherman.“Nowstandclear,forwhenIsay‘three,’downgoesthewiper.”
“Mr.SherlockHolmes—”Ibegan,butthewordshadamostmagicaleffect,forthewindowinstantlyslammeddown,andwithinaminutethedoorwasunbarredandopen.Mr.Shermanwasalanky,leanoldman,withstoopingshoulders,astringyneck,andblue-tintedglasses.
“AfriendofMr.Sherlockisalwayswelcome,”saidhe.
