Знак чотирьох
XII. The Strange Story of Jonathan Small
WhetherAchmetthemerchantlivedordiedwasathingaslightasairtome,butatthetalkaboutthetreasuremyheartturnedtoit,andIthoughtofwhatImightdointheoldcountrywithit,andhowmyfolkwouldstarewhentheysawtheirne’er-do-wellcomingbackwithhispocketsfullofgoldmoidores.Ihad,therefore,alreadymadeupmymind.AbdullahKhan,however,thinkingthatIhesitated,pressedthemattermoreclosely.
“‘Consider,Sahib,’saidhe,‘thatifthismanistakenbythecommandanthewillbehungorshot,andhisjewelstakenbythegovernment,sothatnomanwillbearupeethebetterforthem.Now,sincewedothetakingofhim,whyshouldwenotdotherestaswell?ThejewelswillbeaswellwithusasintheCompany’scoffers.Therewillbeenoughtomakeeveryoneofusrichmenandgreatchiefs.Noonecanknowaboutthematter,forherewearecutofffromallmen.Whatcouldbebetterforthepurpose?Sayagain,then,Sahib,whetheryouarewithus,orifwemustlookuponyouasanenemy.’
“‘Iamwithyouheartandsoul,’saidI.
“‘Itiswell,’heanswered,handingmebackmyfirelock.‘Youseethatwetrustyou,foryourword,likeours,isnottobebroken.Wehavenowonlytowaitformybrotherandthemerchant.’
“‘Doesyourbrotherknow,then,ofwhatyouwilldo?’Iasked.
“‘Theplanishis.Hehasdevisedit.WewillgotothegateandsharethewatchwithMahometSingh.’
“Therainwasstillfallingsteadily,foritwasjustthebeginningofthewetseason.
