Знак чотирьох
IV. The Story of the Bald-Headed Man
Thetreasureishiddenin—’
“Atthisinstantahorriblechangecameoverhisexpression;hiseyesstaredwildly,hisjawdropped,andheyelled,inavoicewhichIcanneverforget,‘Keephimout!ForChrist’ssakekeephimout!’Webothstaredroundatthewindowbehindusuponwhichhisgazewasfixed.Afacewaslookinginatusoutofthedarkness.Wecouldseethewhiteningofthenosewhereitwaspressedagainsttheglass.Itwasabearded,hairyface,withwildcrueleyesandanexpressionofconcentratedmalevolence.MybrotherandIrushedtowardsthewindow,butthemanwasgone.Whenwereturnedtomyfatherhisheadhaddroppedandhispulsehadceasedtobeat.
“Wesearchedthegardenthatnight,butfoundnosignoftheintruder,savethatjustunderthewindowasinglefootmarkwasvisibleintheflower-bed.Butforthatonetrace,wemighthavethoughtthatourimaginationshadconjuredupthatwild,fierceface.Wesoon,however,hadanotherandamorestrikingproofthatthereweresecretagenciesatworkallroundus.Thewindowofmyfather’sroomwasfoundopeninthemorning,hiscupboardsandboxeshadbeenrifled,anduponhischestwasfixedatornpieceofpaper,withthewords‘Thesignofthefour’scrawledacrossit.Whatthephrasemeant,orwhooursecretvisitormayhavebeen,weneverknew.Asfaraswecanjudge,noneofmyfather’spropertyhadbeenactuallystolen,thougheverythinghadbeenturnedout.MybrotherandInaturallyassociatedthispeculiarincidentwiththefearwhichhauntedmyfatherduringhislife;butitisstillacompletemysterytous.
