Знак чотирьох
III. In Quest of a Solution
Whatwrongcanitrefertoexceptthisdeprivationofherfather?AndwhyshouldthepresentsbeginimmediatelyafterSholto’sdeath,unlessitisthatSholto’sheirknowssomethingofthemysteryanddesirestomakecompensation?Haveyouanyalternativetheorywhichwillmeetthefacts?”
“Butwhatastrangecompensation!Andhowstrangelymade!Why,too,shouldhewritealetternow,ratherthansixyearsago?Again,theletterspeaksofgivingherjustice.Whatjusticecanshehave?Itistoomuchtosupposethatherfatherisstillalive.Thereisnootherinjusticeinhercasethatyouknowof.”
“Therearedifficulties;therearecertainlydifficulties,”saidSherlockHolmes,pensively.“Butourexpeditionofto-nightwillsolvethemall.Ah,hereisafour-wheeler,andMissMorstanisinside.Areyouallready?Thenwehadbettergodown,foritisalittlepastthehour.”
Ipickedupmyhatandmyheavieststick,butIobservedthatHolmestookhisrevolverfromhisdrawerandslippeditintohispocket.Itwasclearthathethoughtthatournight’sworkmightbeaseriousone.
MissMorstanwasmuffledinadarkcloak,andhersensitivefacewascomposed,butpale.Shemusthavebeenmorethanwomanifshedidnotfeelsomeuneasinessatthestrangeenterpriseuponwhichwewereembarking,yetherself-controlwasperfect,andshereadilyansweredthefewadditionalquestionswhichSherlockHolmesputtoher.
“MajorSholtowasaveryparticularfriendofpapa’s,”shesaid.“Hisletterswerefullofallusionstothemajor.
