Знак чотирьох
VIII. The Baker Street Irregulars
Ifyoulistentothemunderprotest,asitwere,youareverylikelytogetwhatyouwant.”
“Ourcoursenowseemsprettyclear,”saidI.
“Whatwouldyoudo,then?”
“IwouldengagealaunchandgodowntheriveronthetrackoftheAurora.”
“Mydearfellow,itwouldbeacolossaltask.ShemayhavetouchedatanywharfoneithersideofthestreambetweenhereandGreenwich.Belowthebridgethereisaperfectlabyrinthoflanding-placesformiles.Itwouldtakeyoudaysanddaystoexhaustthem,ifyousetaboutitalone.”
“Employthepolice,then.”
“No.IshallprobablycallAthelneyJonesinatthelastmoment.Heisnotabadfellow,andIshouldnotliketodoanythingwhichwouldinjurehimprofessionally.ButIhaveafancyforworkingitoutmyself,nowthatwehavegonesofar.”
“Couldweadvertise,then,askingforinformationfromwharfingers?”
“Worseandworse!Ourmenwouldknowthatthechasewashotattheirheels,andtheywouldbeoffoutofthecountry.Asitis,theyarelikelyenoughtoleave,butaslongastheythinktheyareperfectlysafetheywillbeinnohurry.Jones’senergywillbeofusetousthere,forhisviewofthecaseissuretopushitselfintothedailypress,andtherunawayswillthinkthateveryoneisoffonthewrongscent.”
“Whatarewetodo,then?”Iasked,aswelandednearMillbankPenitentiary.
“Takethishansom,drivehome,havesomebreakfast,andgetanhour’ssleep.Itisquiteonthecardsthatwemaybeafootto-nightagain.Stopatatelegraph-office,cabby!WewillkeepToby,forhemaybeofusetousyet.
