Знак чотирьох
IV. The Story of the Bald-Headed Man
ThemerefeelingofpossessionhasbeensodeartomethatIcouldnotbeartoshareitwithanother.Seethatchapletdippedwithpearlsbesidethequinine-bottle.EventhatIcouldnotbeartopartwith,althoughIhadgotitoutwiththedesignofsendingittoher.You,mysons,willgiveherafairshareoftheAgratreasure.Butsendhernothing—noteventhechaplet—untilIamgone.Afterall,menhavebeenasbadasthisandhaverecovered.
“‘IwilltellyouhowMorstandied,’hecontinued.‘Hehadsufferedforyearsfromaweakheart,butheconcealeditfromeveryone.Ialoneknewit.WheninIndia,heandI,througharemarkablechainofcircumstances,cameintopossessionofaconsiderabletreasure.IbroughtitovertoEngland,andonthenightofMorstan’sarrivalhecamestraightoverheretoclaimhisshare.Hewalkedoverfromthestation,andwasadmittedbymyfaithfuloldLalChowdar,whoisnowdead.MorstanandIhadadifferenceofopinionastothedivisionofthetreasure,andwecametoheatedwords.Morstanhadsprungoutofhischairinaparoxysmofanger,whenhesuddenlypressedhishandtohisside,hisfaceturnedaduskyhue,andhefellbackwards,cuttinghisheadagainstthecornerofthetreasure-chest.WhenIstoopedoverhimIfound,tomyhorror,thathewasdead.
“‘ForalongtimeIsathalfdistracted,wonderingwhatIshoulddo.Myfirstimpulsewas,ofcourse,tocallforassistance;butIcouldnotbutrecognisethattherewaseverychancethatIwouldbeaccusedofhismurder.
