Знак чотирьох
XII. The Strange Story of Jonathan Small
Thesurgery,whereIusedtomakeupmydrugs,wasnexttohissitting-room,withasmallwindowbetweenus.Often,ifIfeltlonesome,Iusedtoturnoutthelampinthesurgery,andthen,standingthere,Icouldheartheirtalkandwatchtheirplay.Iamfondofahandatcardsmyself,anditwasalmostasgoodashavingonetowatchtheothers.TherewasMajorSholto,CaptainMorstan,andLieutenantBromleyBrown,whowereincommandofthenativetroops,andtherewasthesurgeonhimself,andtwoorthreeprison-officials,craftyoldhandswhoplayedaniceslysafegame.Averysnuglittlepartytheyusedtomake.
“Well,therewasonethingwhichverysoonstruckme,andthatwasthatthesoldiersusedalwaystoloseandthecivilianstowin.Mind,Idon’tsaythattherewasanythingunfair,butsoitwas.Theseprison-chapshaddonelittleelsethanplaycardseversincetheyhadbeenattheAndamans,andtheykneweachother’sgametoapoint,whiletheothersjustplayedtopassthetimeandthrewtheircardsdownanyhow.Nightafternightthesoldiersgotuppoorermen,andthepoorertheygotthemorekeentheyweretoplay.MajorSholtowasthehardesthit.Heusedtopayinnotesandgoldatfirst,butsoonitcametonotesofhandandforbigsums.Hesometimeswouldwinforafewdeals,justtogivehimheart,andthentheluckwouldsetinagainsthimworsethanever.Alldayhewouldwanderaboutasblackasthunder,andhetooktodrinkingadealmorethanwasgoodforhim.
“Onenighthelostevenmoreheavilythanusual.
