Знак четырех
VII. The Episode of the Barrel
Butyouwillknowallaboutitsoonenough.Howsweetthemorningairis!Seehowthatonelittlecloudfloatslikeapinkfeatherfromsomegiganticflamingo.NowtheredrimofthesunpushesitselfovertheLondoncloud-bank.Itshinesonagoodmanyfolk,butonnone,Idarebet,whoareonastrangererrandthanyouandI.Howsmallwefeelwithourpettyambitionsandstrivingsinthepresenceofthegreatelementalforcesofnature!AreyouwellupinyourJeanPaul?”
“Fairlyso.IworkedbacktohimthroughCarlyle.”
“Thatwaslikefollowingthebrooktotheparentlake.Hemakesonecuriousbutprofoundremark.Itisthatthechiefproofofman’srealgreatnessliesinhisperceptionofhisownsmallness.Itargues,yousee,apowerofcomparisonandofappreciationwhichisinitselfaproofofnobility.ThereismuchfoodforthoughtinRichter.Youhavenotapistol,haveyou?”
“Ihavemystick.”
“Itisjustpossiblethatwemayneedsomethingofthesortifwegettotheirlair.JonathanIshallleavetoyou,butiftheotherturnsnastyIshallshoothimdead.”Hetookouthisrevolverashespoke,and,havingloadedtwoofthechambers,heputitbackintotheright-handpocketofhisjacket.
WehadduringthistimebeenfollowingtheguidanceofTobydownthehalf-ruralvilla-linedroadswhichleadtothemetropolis.Now,however,wewerebeginningtocomeamongcontinuousstreets,wherelabourersanddockmenwerealreadyastir,andslatternlywomenweretakingdownshuttersandbrushingdoor-steps.
