Знак чотирьох
VII. The Episode of the Barrel
Atthesquare-toppedcornerpublichousesbusinesswasjustbeginning,andrough-lookingmenwereemerging,rubbingtheirsleevesacrosstheirbeardsaftertheirmorningwet.Strangedogssaunteredupandstaredwonderinglyatusaswepassed,butourinimitableTobylookedneithertotherightnortotheleft,buttrottedonwardswithhisnosetothegroundandanoccasionaleagerwhinewhichspokeofahotscent.
WehadtraversedStreatham,Brixton,Camberwell,andnowfoundourselvesinKenningtonLane,havingborneawaythroughtheside-streetstotheeastoftheOval.Themenwhomwepursuedseemedtohavetakenacuriouslyzigzagroad,withtheideaprobablyofescapingobservation.Theyhadneverkepttothemainroadifaparallelside-streetwouldservetheirturn.AtthefootofKenningtonLanetheyhadedgedawaytotheleftthroughBondStreetandMilesStreet.WherethelatterstreetturnsintoKnight’sPlace,Tobyceasedtoadvance,butbegantorunbackwardsandforwardswithoneearcockedandtheotherdrooping,theverypictureofcanineindecision.Thenhewaddledroundincircles,lookinguptousfromtimetotime,asiftoaskforsympathyinhisembarrassment.
“Whatthedeuceisthematterwiththedog?”growledHolmes.“Theysurelywouldnottakeacab,orgooffinaballoon.”
“Perhapstheystoodhereforsometime,”Isuggested.
“Ah!it’sallright.He’soffagain,”saidmycompanion,inatoneofrelief.
Hewasindeedoff,foraftersniffingroundagainhesuddenlymadeuphismind,anddartedawaywithanenergyanddeterminationsuchashehadnotyetshown
