Знак чотирьох
XII. The Strange Story of Jonathan Small
“‘Youthink,then,sir,thatIshouldgivetheinformationtotheGovernor-General?’saidI,quietly.
“‘Well,well,youmustnotdoanythingrash,orthatyoumightrepent.Letmehearallaboutit,Small.Givemethefacts.’
“Itoldhimthewholestory,withsmallchangessothathecouldnotidentifytheplaces.WhenIhadfinishedhestoodstockstillandfullofthought.Icouldseebythetwitchofhislipthattherewasastrugglegoingonwithinhim.
“‘Thisisaveryimportantmatter,Small,’hesaid,atlast.‘Youmustnotsayawordtoanyoneaboutit,andIshallseeyouagainsoon.’
“TwonightslaterheandhisfriendCaptainMorstancametomyhutinthedeadofthenightwithalantern.
“‘IwantyoujusttoletCaptainMorstanhearthatstoryfromyourownlips,Small,’saidhe.
“IrepeateditasIhadtolditbefore.
“‘Itringstrue,eh?’saidhe.‘It’sgoodenoughtoactupon?’
“CaptainMorstannodded.
“‘Lookhere,Small,’saidthemajor.‘Wehavebeentalkingitover,myfriendhereandI,andwehavecometotheconclusionthatthissecretofyoursishardlyagovernmentmatter,afterall,butisaprivateconcernofyourown,whichofcourseyouhavethepowerofdisposingofasyouthinkbest.Now,thequestionis,whatpricewouldyouaskforit?Wemightbeinclinedtotakeitup,andatleastlookintoit,ifwecouldagreeastoterms.’Hetriedtospeakinacool,carelessway,buthiseyeswereshiningwithexcitementandgreed.
