Знак чотирьох
IV. The Story of the Bald-Headed Man
“Thatwouldhardlydo,”hecried.“Idon’tknowwhathewouldsayifIbroughtyouinthatsuddenway.No,Imustprepareyoubyshowingyouhowweallstandtoeachother.Inthefirstplace,ImusttellyouthatthereareseveralpointsinthestoryofwhichIammyselfignorant.IcanonlylaythefactsbeforeyouasfarasIknowthemmyself.
“Myfatherwas,asyoumayhaveguessed,MajorJohnSholto,onceoftheIndianarmy.Heretiredsomeelevenyearsago,andcametoliveatPondicherryLodgeinUpperNorwood.HehadprosperedinIndia,andbroughtbackwithhimaconsiderablesumofmoney,alargecollectionofvaluablecuriosities,andastaffofnativeservants.Withtheseadvantagesheboughthimselfahouse,andlivedingreatluxury.Mytwin-brotherBartholomewandIweretheonlychildren.
“IverywellrememberthesensationwhichwascausedbythedisappearanceofCaptainMorstan.Wereadthedetailsinthepapers,and,knowingthathehadbeenafriendofourfather’s,wediscussedthecasefreelyinhispresence.Heusedtojoininourspeculationsastowhatcouldhavehappened.Neverforaninstantdidwesuspectthathehadthewholesecrethiddeninhisownbreast,—thatofallmenhealoneknewthefateofArthurMorstan.
“Wedidknow,however,thatsomemystery—somepositivedanger—overhungourfather.Hewasveryfearfulofgoingoutalone,andhealwaysemployedtwoprize-fighterstoactasportersatPondicherryLodge.Williams,whodroveyouto-night,wasoneofthem.Hewasoncelight-weightchampionofEngland.
