Знак чотирьох
VII. The Episode of the Barrel
PossiblyheleavesEnglandandonlycomesbackatintervals.Thencomesthediscoveryofthegarret,andheisinstantlyinformedofit.Weagaintracethepresenceofsomeconfederateinthehousehold.Jonathan,withhiswoodenleg,isutterlyunabletoreachtheloftyroomofBartholomewSholto.Hetakeswithhim,however,arathercuriousassociate,whogetsoverthisdifficulty,butdipshisnakedfootintocreasote,whencecomesToby,andasix-milelimpforahalf-payofficerwithadamagedtendoAchillis.”
“Butitwastheassociate,andnotJonathan,whocommittedthecrime.”
“Quiteso.AndrathertoJonathan’sdisgust,tojudgebythewayhestampedaboutwhenhegotintotheroom.HeborenogrudgeagainstBartholomewSholto,andwouldhavepreferredifhecouldhavebeensimplyboundandgagged.Hedidnotwishtoputhisheadinahalter.Therewasnohelpforit,however:thesavageinstinctsofhiscompanionhadbrokenout,andthepoisonhaddoneitswork:soJonathanSmalllefthisrecord,loweredthetreasure-boxtotheground,andfollowedithimself.ThatwasthetrainofeventsasfarasIcandecipherthem.Ofcourseastohispersonalappearancehemustbemiddle-aged,andmustbesunburnedafterservinghistimeinsuchanovenastheAndamans.Hisheightisreadilycalculatedfromthelengthofhisstride,andweknowthathewasbearded.HishairinesswastheonepointwhichimpresseditselfuponThaddeusSholtowhenhesawhimatthewindow.Idon’tknowthatthereisanythingelse.”
“Theassociate?”
“Ah,well,thereisnogreatmysteryinthat.
