Знак четырех
VII. The Episode of the Barrel
“Stepin,sir.Keepclearofthebadger;forhebites.Ah,naughty,naughty,wouldyoutakeanipatthegentleman?”Thistoastoatwhichthrustitswickedheadandredeyesbetweenthebarsofitscage.“Don’tmindthat,sir:it’sonlyaslow-worm.Ithain’tgotnofangs,soIgivesittheruno’theroom,foritkeepsthebeetlesdown.Youmustnotmindmybein’justalittleshortwi’youatfirst,forI’mguyedatbythechildren,andthere’smanyaonejustcomesdownthislanetoknockmeup.WhatwasitthatMr.SherlockHolmeswanted,sir?”
“Hewantedadogofyours.”
“Ah!thatwouldbeToby.”
“Yes,Tobywasthename.”
“TobylivesatNo.7onthelefthere.”Hemovedslowlyforwardwithhiscandleamongthequeeranimalfamilywhichhehadgatheredroundhim.Intheuncertain,shadowylightIcouldseedimlythattherewereglancing,glimmeringeyespeepingdownatusfromeverycrannyandcorner.Eventheraftersaboveourheadswerelinedbysolemnfowls,wholazilyshiftedtheirweightfromonelegtotheotherasourvoicesdisturbedtheirslumbers.
Tobyprovedtobeanugly,long-haired,lop-earedcreature,halfspanielandhalflurcher,brown-and-whiteincolour,withaveryclumsywaddlinggait.Itacceptedaftersomehesitationalumpofsugarwhichtheoldnaturalisthandedtome,and,havingthussealedanalliance,itfollowedmetothecab,andmadenodifficultiesaboutaccompanyingme.IthadjuststruckthreeonthePalaceclockwhenIfoundmyselfbackoncemoreatPondicherryLodge.
