Знак четырех
VII. The Episode of the Barrel
Theex-prize-fighterMcMurdohad,Ifound,beenarrestedasanaccessory,andbothheandMr.Sholtohadbeenmarchedofftothestation.Twoconstablesguardedthenarrowgate,buttheyallowedmetopasswiththedogonmymentioningthedetective’sname.
Holmeswasstandingonthedoor-step,withhishandsinhispockets,smokinghispipe.
“Ah,youhavehimthere!”saidhe.“Gooddog,then!AtheneyJoneshasgone.Wehavehadanimmensedisplayofenergysinceyouleft.HehasarrestednotonlyfriendThaddeus,butthegatekeeper,thehousekeeper,andtheIndianservant.Wehavetheplacetoourselves,butforasergeantupstairs.Leavethedoghere,andcomeup.”
WetiedTobytothehalltable,andre-ascendedthestairs.Theroomwasashehadleftit,savethatasheethadbeendrapedoverthecentralfigure.Aweary-lookingpolice-sergeantreclinedinthecorner.
“Lendmeyourbull’s-eye,sergeant,”saidmycompanion.“Nowtiethisbitofcardroundmyneck,soastohangitinfrontofme.Thankyou.NowImustkickoffmybootsandstockings.—Justyoucarrythemdownwithyou,Watson.Iamgoingtodoalittleclimbing.Anddipmyhandkerchiefintothecreasote.Thatwilldo.Nowcomeupintothegarretwithmeforamoment.”
Weclamberedupthroughthehole.Holmesturnedhislightoncemoreuponthefootstepsinthedust.
“Iwishyouparticularlytonoticethesefootmarks,”hesaid.“Doyouobserveanythingnoteworthyaboutthem?”
“Theybelong,”Isaid,“toachildorasmallwoman.”
“Apartfromtheirsize,though.
