the sign of the four(那四个的记号)-第16节
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Small learns that the major is on his death…bed。 In a frenzy lest the secret
of the treasure die with him； he runs the gauntlet of the guards； makes his
way to the dying man's window； and is only deterred from entering by the
presence of his two sons。 Mad with hate； however； against the dead man；
he enters the room that night； searches his private papers in the hope of
discovering some memorandum relating to the treasure； and finally leaves
a momento of his visit in the short inscription upon the card。 He had
doubtless planned beforehand that should he slay the major he would
leave some such record upon the body as a sign that it was not a common
murder； but； from the point of view of the four associates； something in
the nature of an act of justice。 Whimsical and bizarre conceits of this
kind are common enough in the annals of crime； and usually afford
valuable indications as to the criminal。 Do you follow all this？〃
〃Very clearly。〃
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〃Now； what could Jonathan Small do？ He could only continue to
keep a secret watch upon the efforts made to find the treasure。 Possibly
he leaves England and only comes back at intervals。 Then comes the
discovery of the garret； and he is instantly informed of it。 We again trace
the presence of some confederate in the household。 Jonathan； with his
wooden leg； is utterly unable to reach the lofty room of Bartholomew
Sholto。 He takes with him； however； a rather curious associate； who gets
over this difficulty； but dips his naked foot into creasote； whence come
Toby； and a six…mile limp for a half…pay officer with a damaged tendo
Achillis。〃
〃But it was the associate； and not Jonathan； who committed the crime。〃
〃Quite so。 And rather to Jonathan's disgust； to judge by the way the
stamped about when he got into the room。 He bore no grudge against
Bartholomew Sholto； and would have preferred if he could have been
simply bound and gagged。 He did not wish to put his head in a halter。
There was no help for it； however： the savage instincts of his companion
had broken out； and the poison had done its work： so Jonathan Small left
his record； lowered the treasure…box to the ground； and followed it himself。
That was the train of events as far as I can decipher them。 Of course as
to his personal appearance he must be middle…aged； and must be
sunburned after serving his time in such an oven as the Andamans。 His
height is readily calculated from the length of his stride； and we know that
he was bearded。 His hairiness was the one point which impressed itself
upon Thaddeus Sholto when he saw him at the window。 I don't know
that there is anything else。〃
〃The associate？〃
〃Ah； well； there is no great mystery in that。 But you will know all
about it soon enough。 How sweet the morning air is！ See how that one
little cloud floats like a pink feather from some gigantic flamingo。 Now
the red rim of the sun pushes itself over the London cloud…bank。 It
shines on a good many folk； but on none； I dare bet； who are on a stranger
errand than you and I。 How small we feel with our petty ambitions and
strivings in the presence of the great elemental forces of nature！ Are you
well up in your Jean Paul？〃
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〃Fairly so。 I worked back to him through Carlyle。〃
〃That was like following the brook to the parent lake。 He makes one
curious but profound remark。 It is that the chief proof of man's real
greatness lies in his perception of his own smallness。 It argues； you see；
a power of comparison and of appreciation which is in itself a proof of
nobility。 There is much food for thought in Richter。 You have not a
pistol； have you？〃
〃I have my stick。〃
〃It is just possible that we may need something of the sort if we get to
their lair。 Jonathan I shall leave to you； but if the other turns nasty I shall
shoot him dead。〃 He took out his revolver as he spoke； and； having
loaded two of the chambers； he put it back into the right…hand pocket of
his jacket。
We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down
the half…rural villa…lined roads which lead to the metropolis。 Now；
however； we were beginning to come among continuous streets； where
laborers and dockmen were already astir； and slatternly women were
taking down shutters and brushing door…steps。 At the square…topped
corner public houses business was just beginning； and rough…looking men
were emerging； rubbing their sleeves across their beards after their
morning wet。 Strange dogs sauntered up and stared wonderingly at us as
we passed； but our inimitable Toby looked neither to the right nor to the
left； but trotted onwards with his nose to the ground and an occasional
eager whine which spoke of a hot scent。
We had traversed Streatham； Brixton； Camberwell； and now found
ourselves in Kennington Lane； having borne away through the side… streets
to the east of the Oval。 The men whom we pursued seemed to have taken
a curiously zigzag road； with the idea probably of escaping observation。
They had never kept to the main road if a parallel side…street would serve
their turn。 At the foot of Kennington Lane they had edged away to the
left through Bond Street and Miles Street。 Where the latter street turns
into Knight's Place； Toby ceased to advance； but began to run backwards
and forwards with one ear cocked and the other drooping； the very picture
of canine indecision。 Then he waddled round in circles； looking up to us
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from time to time； as if to ask for sympathy in his embarrassment。
〃What the deuce is the matter with the dog？〃 growled Holmes。
〃They surely would not take a cab； or go off in a balloon。〃
〃Perhaps they stood here for some time；〃 I suggested。
〃Ah！ it's all right。 He's off again；〃 said my companion； in a tone of
relief。
He was indeed off； for after sniffing round again he suddenly made up
his mind； and darted away with an energy and determination such as he
had not yet shown。 The scent appeared to be much hotter than before； for
he had not even to put his nose on the ground； but tugged at his leash and
tried to break into a run。 I cold see by the gleam in Holmes's eyes that he
thought we were nearing the end of our journey。
Our course now ran down Nine Elms until we came to Broderick and
Nelson's large timber…yard； just past the White Eagle tavern。 Here the
dog； frantic with excitement； turned down through the side…gate into the
enclosure； where the sawyers were already at work。 On the dog raced
through sawdust and shavings； down an alley； round a passage； between
two wood…piles； and finally； with a triumphant yelp； sprang upon a large
barrel which still stood upon the hand…trolley on which it had been brought。
With lolling tongue and blinking eyes； Toby stood upon the cask； looking
from one to the other of us for some sign of appreciation。 The staves of
the barrel and the wheels of the trolley were smeared with a dark liquid；
and the whole air was heavy with the smell of creasote。
Sherlock Holmes and I looked blankly at each other； and then burst
simultaneously into an uncontrollable fit of laughter。
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CHAPTER VIII The Baker Street
Irregulars
〃What now？〃 I asked。 〃Toby has lost his characte
