Знак чотирьох
XII. The Strange Story of Jonathan Small
Therewasnousedividingitatpresent,forifgemsofsuchvaluewerefounduponusitwouldcausesuspicion,andtherewasnoprivacyinthefortnoranyplacewherewecouldkeepthem.Wecarriedthebox,therefore,intothesamehallwherewehadburiedthebody,andthere,undercertainbricksinthebest-preservedwall,wemadeahollowandputourtreasure.Wemadecarefulnoteoftheplace,andnextdayIdrewfourplans,oneforeachofus,andputthesignofthefourofusatthebottom,forwehadswornthatweshouldeachalwaysactforall,sothatnonemighttakeadvantage.ThatisanoaththatIcanputmyhandtomyheartandswearthatIhaveneverbroken.
“Well,there’snousemytellingyougentlemenwhatcameoftheIndianmutiny.AfterWilsontookDelhiandSirColinrelievedLucknowthebackofthebusinesswasbroken.Freshtroopscamepouringin,andNanaSahibmadehimselfscarceoverthefrontier.AflyingcolumnunderColonelGreathedcameroundtoAgraandclearedthePandiesawayfromit.Peaceseemedtobesettlinguponthecountry,andwefourwerebeginningtohopethatthetimewasathandwhenwemightsafelygooffwithoursharesoftheplunder.Inamoment,however,ourhopeswereshatteredbyourbeingarrestedasthemurderersofAchmet.
“Itcameaboutinthisway.WhentherajahputhisjewelsintothehandsofAchmethediditbecauseheknewthathewasatrustyman.
