Знак чотирьох
VIII. The Baker Street Irregulars
Thesemassacresareinvariablyconcludedbyacannibalfeast.’Nice,amiablepeople,Watson!Ifthisfellowhadbeenlefttohisownunaideddevicesthisaffairmighthavetakenanevenmoreghastlyturn.Ifancythat,evenasitis,JonathanSmallwouldgiveagooddealnottohaveemployedhim.”
“Buthowcamehetohavesosingularacompanion?”
“Ah,thatismorethanIcantell.Since,however,wehadalreadydeterminedthatSmallhadcomefromtheAndamans,itisnotsoverywonderfulthatthisislandershouldbewithhim.Nodoubtweshallknowallaboutitintime.Lookhere,Watson;youlookregularlydone.Liedownthereonthesofa,andseeifIcanputyoutosleep.”
Hetookuphisviolinfromthecorner,andasIstretchedmyselfouthebegantoplaysomelow,dreamy,melodiousair,—hisown,nodoubt,forhehadaremarkablegiftforimprovisation.Ihaveavagueremembranceofhisgauntlimbs,hisearnestface,andtheriseandfallofhisbow.ThenIseemedtobefloatedpeacefullyawayuponasoftseaofsound,untilIfoundmyselfindreamland,withthesweetfaceofMaryMorstanlookingdownuponme.
