Знак чотирьох
VIII. The Baker Street Irregulars
”
Ashespoke,therecameaswiftpatteringofnakedfeetuponthestairs,aclatterofhighvoices,andinrushedadozendirtyandraggedlittlestreet-Arabs.Therewassomeshowofdisciplineamongthem,despitetheirtumultuousentry,fortheyinstantlydrewupinlineandstoodfacinguswithexpectantfaces.Oneoftheirnumber,tallerandolderthantheothers,stoodforwardwithanairofloungingsuperioritywhichwasveryfunnyinsuchadisreputablelittlescarecrow.
“Gotyourmessage,sir,”saidhe,“andbrought’emonsharp.Threebobandatannerfortickets.”
“Hereyouare,”saidHolmes,producingsomesilver.“Infuturetheycanreporttoyou,Wiggins,andyoutome.Icannothavethehouseinvadedinthisway.However,itisjustaswellthatyoushouldallheartheinstructions.IwanttofindthewhereaboutsofasteamlaunchcalledtheAurora,ownerMordecaiSmith,blackwithtworedstreaks,funnelblackwithawhiteband.Sheisdowntheriversomewhere.IwantoneboytobeatMordecaiSmith’slanding-stageoppositeMillbanktosayiftheboatcomesback.Youmustdivideitoutamongyourselves,anddobothbanksthoroughly.Letmeknowthemomentyouhavenews.Isthatallclear?”
“Yes,guv’nor,”saidWiggins.
“Theoldscaleofpay,andaguineatotheboywhofindstheboat.Here’sadayinadvance.Nowoffyougo!”Hehandedthemashillingeach,andawaytheybuzzeddownthestairs,andIsawthemamomentlaterstreamingdownthestreet.
“Ifthelaunchisabovewatertheywillfindher,”saidHolmes,asherosefromthetableandlithispipe.
