the sign of the four(那四个的记号)-第9节
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the separate rooms； and making every allowance for the space between；
which he ascertained by borings； he could not bring the total to more than
seventy feet。 There were four feet unaccounted for。 These could only
be at the top of the building。 He knocked a hole； therefore； in the lath…
and…plaster ceiling of the highest room； and there； sure enough； he came
upon another little garret above it； which had been sealed up and was
known to no one。 In the centre stood the treasure…chest； resting upon two
rafters。 He lowered it through the hole； and there it lies。 He computes
the value of the jewels at not less than half a million sterling。〃
At the mention of this gigantic sum we all stared at one another open…
eyed。 Miss Morstan； could we secure her rights； would change from a
needy governess to the richest heiress in England。 Surely it was the place
of a loyal friend to rejoice at such news； yet I am ashamed to say that
selfishness took me by the soul； and that my heart turned as heavy as lead
within me。 I stammered out some few halting words of congratulation；
and then sat downcast； with my head drooped； deaf to the babble of our
new acquaintance。 He was clearly a confirmed hypochondriac； and I was
dreamily conscious that he was pouring forth interminable trains of
symptoms； and imploring information as to the composition and action of
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innumerable quack nostrums； some of which he bore about in a leather
case in his pocket。 I trust that he may not remember any of the answers
which I gave him that night。 Holmes declares that he overheard me
caution him against the great danger of taking more than two drops of
castor oil； while I recommended strychnine in large doses as a sedative。
However that may be； I was certainly relieved when our cab pulled up
with a jerk and the coachman sprang down to open the door。
〃This； Miss Morstan； is Pondicherry Lodge；〃 said Mr。 Thaddeus
Sholto； as he handed her out。
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The Sign of the Four
CHAPTER V The Tragedy of
Pondicherry Lodge
It was nearly eleven o'clock when we reached this final stage of our
night's adventures。 We had left the damp fog of the great city behind us；
and the night was fairly fine。 A warm wind blew from the westward； and
heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky； with half a moon peeping
occasionally through the rifts。 It was clear enough to see for some
distance； but Thaddeus Sholto took down one of the side…lamps from the
carriage to give us a better light upon our way。
Pondicherry Lodge stood in its own grounds； and was girt round with a
very high stone wall topped with broken glass。 A single narrow iron…
clamped door formed the only means of entrance。 On this our guide
knocked with a peculiar postman…like rat…tat。
〃Who is there？〃 cried a gruff voice from within。
〃It is I； McMurdo。 You surely know my knock by this time。〃
There was a grumbling sound and a clanking and jarring of keys。
The door swung heavily back； and a short； deep…chested man stood in the
opening； with the yellow light of the lantern shining upon his protruded
face and twinkling distrustful eyes。
〃That you； Mr。 Thaddeus？ But who are the others？ I had no orders
about them from the master。〃
〃No； McMurdo？ You surprise me！ I told my brother last night that
I should bring some friends。〃
〃He ain't been out o' his room to…day； Mr。 Thaddeus； and I have no
orders。 You know very well that I must stick to regulations。 I can let
you in； but your friends must just stop where they are。〃
This was an unexpected obstacle。 Thaddeus Sholto looked about him
in a perplexed and helpless manner。 〃This is too bad of you； McMurdo！〃
he said。 〃If I guarantee them； that is enough for you。 There is the
young lady； too。 She cannot wait on the public road at this hour。〃
〃Very sorry； Mr。 Thaddeus；〃 said the porter； inexorably。 〃Folk may
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be friends o' yours； and yet no friends o' the master's。 He pays me well to
do my duty； and my duty I'll do。 I don't know none o' your friends。〃
〃Oh； yes you do； McMurdo；〃 cried Sherlock Holmes； genially。 〃I
don't think you can have forgotten me。 Don't you remember the amateur
who fought three rounds with you at Alison's rooms on the night of your
benefit four years back？〃
〃Not Mr。 Sherlock Holmes！〃 roared the prize…fighter。 〃God's truth！
how could I have mistook you？ If instead o' standin' there so quiet you
had just stepped up and given me that cross… hit of yours under the jaw； I'd
ha' known you without a question。 Ah； you're one that has wasted your
gifts； you have！ You might have aimed high； if you had joined the
fancy。〃
〃You see； Watson； if all else fails me I have still one of the scientific
professions open to me；〃 said Holmes； laughing。 〃Our friend won't keep
us out in the cold now； I am sure。〃
〃In you come； sir； in you come；you and your friends；〃 he answered。
〃Very sorry； Mr。 Thaddeus； but orders are very strict。 Had to be certain
of your friends before I let them in。〃
Inside； a gravel path wound through desolate grounds to a huge clump
of a house； square and prosaic； all plunged in shadow save where a
moonbeam struck one corner and glimmered in a garret window。 The
vast size of the building； with its gloom and its deathly silence； struck a
chill to the heart。 Even Thaddeus Sholto seemed ill at ease； and the
lantern quivered and rattled in his hand。
〃I cannot understand it；〃 he said。 〃There must be some mistake。 I
distinctly told Bartholomew that we should be here； and yet there is no
light in his window。 I do not know what to make of it。〃
〃Does he always guard the premises in this way？〃 asked Holmes。
〃Yes； he has followed my father's custom。 He was the favorite son；
you know； and I sometimes think that my father may have told him more
than he ever told me。 That is Bartholomew's window up there where the
moonshine strikes。 It is quite bright； but there is no light from within； I
think。〃
〃None；〃 said Holmes。 〃But I see the glint of a light in that little
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window beside the door。〃
〃Ah； that is the housekeeper's room。 That is where old Mrs。
Bernstone sits。 She can tell us all about it。 But perhaps you would not
mind waiting here for a minute or two； for if we all go in together and she
has no word of our coming she may be alarmed。 But hush！ what is that？〃
He held up the lantern； and his hand shook until the circles of light
flickered and wavered all round us。 Miss Morstan seized my wrist； and
we all stood with thumping hearts； straining our ears。 》From the great
black house there sounded through the silent night the saddest and most
pitiful of sounds；the shrill； broken whimpering of a frightened woman。
〃It is Mrs。 Bernstone；〃 said Sholto。 〃She is the only woman in the
house。 Wait here。 I shall be back in a moment。〃 He hurried for the
door； and knocked in his peculiar way。 We could see a tall old woman
admit him； and sway with pleasure at the very sight of him。
〃Oh； Mr。 Thaddeus； sir； I am so glad you have come！ I am so glad
you have come； Mr。 Thaddeus； sir！〃 We heard her reiterated rejoicings
until the door was closed and her voice died away
