the sign of the four(那四个的记号)-第8节
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all； Sahib；〃 said he。 〃I heard you quarrel； and I heard the blow。 But my
lips are sealed。 All are asleep in the house。 Let us put him away
together。〃 That was enough to decide met。 If my own servant could not
believe my innocence； how could I hope to make it good before twelve
foolish tradesmen in a jury…box？ Lal Chowdar and I disposed of the
body that night； and within a few days the London papers were full of the
mysterious disappearance of Captain Morstan。 You will see from what I
say that I can hardly be blamed in the matter。 My fault lies in the fact
that we concealed not only the body； but also the treasure； and that I have
clung to Morstan's share as well as to my own。 I wish you； therefore； to
make restitution。 Put your ears down to my mouth。 The treasure is
hidden in' At this instant a horrible change came over his expression；
his eyes stared wildly； his jaw dropped； and he yelled； in a voice which I
can never forget； 'Keep him out！ For Christ's sake keep him out！' We
both stared round at the window behind us upon which his gaze was fixed。
A face was looking in at us out of the darkness。 We could see the
whitening of the nose where it was pressed against the glass。 It was a
bearded； hairy face； with wild cruel eyes and an expression of
concentrated malevolence。 My brother and I rushed towards the window；
but the man was gone。 When we returned to my father his head had
dropped and his pulse had ceased to beat。
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〃We searched the garden that night； but found no sign of the intruder；
save that just under the window a single footmark was visible in the
flower…bed。 But for that one trace； we might have thought that our
imaginations had conjured up that wild； fierce face。 We soon； however；
had another and a more striking proof that there were secret agencies at
work all round us。 The window of my father's room was found open in
the morning； his cupboards and boxes had been rifled； and upon his chest
was fixed a torn piece of paper； with the words 'The sign of the four'
scrawled across it。 What the phrase meant； or who our secret visitor may
have been； we never knew。 As far as we can judge； none of my father's
property had been actually stolen； though everything had been turned out。
My brother and I naturally associated this peculiar incident with the fear
which haunted my father during his life； but it is still a complete mystery
to us。〃
The little man stopped to relight his hookah and puffed thoughtfully
for a few moments。 We had all sat absorbed； listening to his
extraordinary narrative。 At the short account of her father's death Miss
Morstan had turned deadly white； and for a moment I feared that she was
about to faint。 She rallied however； on drinking a glass of water which I
quietly poured out for her from a Venetian carafe upon the side…table。
Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair with an abstracted expression
and the lids drawn low over his glittering eyes。 As I glanced at him I
could not but think how on that very day he had complained bitterly of the
commonplaceness of life。 Here at least was a problem which would tax
his sagacity to the utmost。 Mr。 Thaddeus Sholto looked from one to the
other of us with an obvious pride at the effect which his story had
produced； and then continued between the puffs of his overgrown pipe。
〃My brother and I；〃 said he； 〃were； as you may imagine； much excited
as to the treasure which my father had spoken of。 For weeks and for
months we dug and delved in every part of the garden； without
discovering its whereabouts。 It was maddening to think that the hiding…
place was on his very lips at the moment that he died。 We could judge
the splendor of the missing riches by the chaplet which he had taken out。
Over this chaplet my brother Bartholomew and I had some little
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discussion。 The pearls were evidently of great value； and he was averse
to part with them； for； between friends； my brother was himself a little
inclined to my father's fault。 He thought； too； that if we parted with the
chaplet it might give rise to gossip and finally bring us into trouble。 It
was all that I could do to persuade him to let me find out Miss Morstan's
address and send her a detached pearl at fixed intervals； so that at least she
might never feel destitute。〃
〃It was a kindly thought；〃 said our companion； earnestly。 〃It was
extremely good of you。〃
The little man waved his hand deprecatingly。 〃We were your
trustees；〃 he said。 〃That was the view which I took of it； though Brother
Bartholomew could not altogether see it in that light。 We had plenty of
money ourselves。 I desired no more。 Besides； it would have been such
bad taste to have treated a young lady in so scurvy a fashion。 'Le mauvais
gout mene au crime。' The French have a very neat way of putting these
things。 Our difference of opinion on this subject went so far that I
thought it best to set up rooms for myself： so I left Pondicherry Lodge；
taking the old khitmutgar and Williams with me。 Yesterday； however； I
learn that an event of extreme importance has occurred。 The treasure has
been discovered。 I instantly communicated with Miss Morstan； and it
only remains for us to drive out to Norwood and demand our share。 I
explained my views last night to Brother Bartholomew： so we shall be
expected； if not welcome； visitors。〃
Mr。 Thaddeus Sholto ceased； and sat twitching on his luxurious settee。
We all remained silent； with our thoughts upon the new development
which the mysterious business had taken。 Holmes was the first to spring
to his feet。
〃You have done well； sir； from first to last；〃 said he。 〃It is possible
that we may be able to make you some small return by throwing some
light upon that which is still dark to you。 But； as Miss Morstan remarked
just now； it is late； and we had best put the matter through without delay。〃
Our new acquaintance very deliberately coiled up the tube of his
hookah； and produced from behind a curtain a very long befrogged topcoat
with Astrakhan collar and cuffs。 This he buttoned tightly up； in spite of
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the extreme closeness of the night； and finished his attire by putting on a
rabbit…skin cap with hanging lappets which covered the ears； so that no
part of him was visible save his mobile and peaky face。 〃My health is
somewhat fragile；〃 he remarked； as he led the way down the passage。 〃I
am compelled to be a valetudinarian。〃
Our cab was awaiting us outside； and our programme was evidently
prearranged； for the driver started off at once at a rapid pace。 Thaddeus
Sholto talked incessantly； in a voice which rose high above the rattle of the
wheels。
〃Bartholomew is a clever fellow；〃 said he。 〃How do you think he
found out where the treasure was？ He had come to the conclusion that it
was somewhere indoors： so he worked out all the cubic space of the
house； and made measurements everywhere； so that not one inch should
be unaccounted for。 Among other things； he found that the height of the
building was seventy…four feet； but on adding together the heights of all
the separate rooms； and making every allowance for the space between；
which he ascertained by b
