Знак чотирьох
IX. A Break in the Chain
Heisirregularinhismethods,andalittlequickperhapsinjumpingattheories,but,onthewhole,Ithinkhewouldhavemadeamostpromisingofficer,andIdon’tcarewhoknowsit.Ihavehadawirefromhimthismorning,bywhichIunderstandthathehasgotsomecluetothisSholtobusiness.Hereisthemessage.”
Hetookthetelegramoutofhispocket,andhandedittome.ItwasdatedfromPoplarattwelveo’clock.“GotoBakerStreetatonce,”itsaid.“IfIhavenotreturned,waitforme.IamcloseonthetrackoftheSholtogang.Youcancomewithusto-nightifyouwanttobeinatthefinish.”
“Thissoundswell.Hehasevidentlypickedupthescentagain,”saidI.
“Ah,thenhehasbeenatfaulttoo,”exclaimedJones,withevidentsatisfaction.“Eventhebestofusarethrownoffsometimes.Ofcoursethismayprovetobeafalsealarm;butitismydutyasanofficerofthelawtoallownochancetoslip.Butthereissomeoneatthedoor.Perhapsthisishe.”
Aheavystepwasheardascendingthestair,withagreatwheezingandrattlingasfromamanwhowassorelyputtoitforbreath.Onceortwicehestopped,asthoughtheclimbweretoomuchforhim,butatlasthemadehiswaytoourdoorandentered.Hisappearancecorrespondedtothesoundswhichwehadheard.Hewasanagedman,cladinseafaringgarb,withanoldpea-jacketbuttoneduptohisthroat.Hisbackwasbowed,hiskneeswereshaky,andhisbreathingwaspainfullyasthmatic.Asheleaneduponathickoakencudgelhisshouldersheavedintheefforttodrawtheairintohislungs.
