Знак чотирьох
VII. The Episode of the Barrel
Tobyneverhesitatedorswerved,butwaddledoninhispeculiarrollingfashion.Clearly,thepungentsmellofthecreasoterosehighaboveallothercontendingscents.
“Donotimagine,”saidHolmes,“thatIdependformysuccessinthiscaseuponthemerechanceofoneofthesefellowshavingputhisfootinthechemical.Ihaveknowledgenowwhichwouldenablemetotracetheminmanydifferentways.This,however,isthereadiestand,sincefortunehasputitintoourhands,IshouldbeculpableifIneglectedit.Ithas,however,preventedthecasefrombecomingtheprettylittleintellectualproblemwhichitatonetimepromisedtobe.Theremighthavebeensomecredittobegainedoutofit,butforthistoopalpableclue.”
“Thereiscredit,andtospare,”saidI.“Iassureyou,Holmes,thatImarvelatthemeansbywhichyouobtainyourresultsinthiscase,evenmorethanIdidintheJeffersonHopeMurder.Thethingseemstometobedeeperandmoreinexplicable.How,forexample,couldyoudescribewithsuchconfidencethewooden-leggedman?”
“Pshaw,mydearboy!itwassimplicityitself.Idon’twishtobetheatrical.Itisallpatentandabove-board.Twoofficerswhoareincommandofaconvict-guardlearnanimportantsecretastoburiedtreasure.AmapisdrawnforthembyanEnglishmannamedJonathanSmall.YourememberthatwesawthenameuponthechartinCaptainMorstan’spossession.Hehadsigneditinbehalfofhimselfandhisassociates,—thesignofthefour,ashesomewhatdramaticallycalledit.
