Знак чотирьох
IX. A Break in the Chain
Atbreakfast-timehelookedwornandhaggard,withalittlefleckoffeverishcolouruponeithercheek.
“Youareknockingyourselfup,oldman,”Iremarked.“Iheardyoumarchingaboutinthenight.”
“No,Icouldnotsleep,”heanswered.“Thisinfernalproblemisconsumingme.Itistoomuchtobebalkedbysopettyanobstacle,whenallelsehadbeenovercome.Iknowthemen,thelaunch,everything;andyetIcangetnonews.Ihavesetotheragenciesatwork,andusedeverymeansatmydisposal.Thewholeriverhasbeensearchedoneitherside,butthereisnonews,norhasMrs.Smithheardofherhusband.Ishallcometotheconclusionsoonthattheyhavescuttledthecraft.Butthereareobjectionstothat.”
“OrthatMrs.Smithhasputusonawrongscent.”
“No,Ithinkthatmaybedismissed.Ihadinquiriesmade,andthereisalaunchofthatdescription.”
“Couldithavegoneuptheriver?”
“Ihaveconsideredthatpossibilitytoo,andthereisasearch-partywhowillworkupasfarasRichmond.Ifnonewscomesto-day,Ishallstartoffmyselfto-morrow,andgoforthemenratherthantheboat.Butsurely,surely,weshallhearsomething.”
Wedidnot,however.NotawordcametouseitherfromWigginsorfromtheotheragencies.TherewerearticlesinmostofthepapersupontheNorwoodtragedy.TheyallappearedtoberatherhostiletotheunfortunateThaddeusSholto.Nofreshdetailsweretobefound,however,inanyofthem,savethataninquestwastobehelduponthefollowingday.
