the sign of the four(那四个的记号)-第17章
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Holmes then threw the handkerchief to a distance； fastened a stout cord to
the mongrel's collar； and let him to the foot of the water…barrel。 The
creature instantly broke into a succession of high； tremulous yelps； and；
with his nose on the ground； and his tail in the air； pattered off upon the
trail at a pace which strained his leash and kept us at the top of our speed。
The east had been gradually whitening； and we could now see some
distance in the cold gray light。 The square； massive house； with its black；
empty windows and high； bare walls； towered up； sad and forlorn； behind
us。 Our course let right across the grounds； in and out among the
trenches and pits with which they were scarred and intersected。 The
whole place； with its scattered dirt…heaps and ill…grown shrubs； had a
blighted； ill…omened look which harmonized with the black tragedy which
hung over it。
On reaching the boundary wall Toby ran along； whining eagerly；
underneath its shadow； and stopped finally in a corner screened by a
young beech。 Where the two walls joined； several bricks had been
loosened； and the crevices left were worn down and rounded upon the
lower side； as though they had frequently been used as a ladder。 Holmes
clambered up； and； taking the dog from me； he dropped it over upon the
other side。
〃There's the print of wooden…leg's hand；〃 he remarked； as I mounted
up beside him。 〃You see the slight smudge of blood upon the white
plaster。 What a lucky thing it is that we have had no very heavy rain
since yesterday！ The scent will lie upon the road in spite of their eight…
and…twenty hours' start。〃
I confess that I had my doubts myself when I reflected upon the great
traffic which had passed along the London road in the interval。 My fears
were soon appeased； however。 Toby never hesitated or swerved； but
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The Sign of the Four
waddled on in his peculiar rolling fashion。 Clearly； the pungent smell of
the creasote rose high above all other contending scents。
〃Do not imagine；〃 said Holmes； 〃that I depend for my success in this
case upon the mere chance of one of these fellows having put his foot in
the chemical。 I have knowledge now which would enable me to trace
them in many different ways。 This； however； is the readiest and； since
fortune has put it into our hands； I should be culpable if I neglected it。 It
has； however； prevented the case from becoming the pretty little
intellectual problem which it at one time promised to be。 There might have
been some credit to be gained out of it； but for this too palpable clue。〃
〃There is credit； and to spare；〃 said I。 〃I assure you； Holmes； that I
marvel at the means by which you obtain your results in this case； even
more than I did in the Jefferson Hope Murder。 The thing seems to me to
be deeper and more inexplicable。 How； for example； could you describe
with such confidence the wooden… legged man？〃
〃Pshaw； my dear boy！ it was simplicity itself。 I don't wish to be
theatrical。 It is all patent and above…board。 Two officers who are in
command of a convict…guard learn an important secret as to buried
treasure。 A map is drawn for them by an Englishman named Jonathan
Small。 You remember that we saw the name upon the chart in Captain
Morstan's possession。 He had signed it in behalf of himself and his
associates；the sign of the four； as he somewhat dramatically called it。
Aided by this chart； the officersor one of themgets the treasure and
brings it to England； leaving； we will suppose； some condition under
which he received it unfulfilled。 Now； then； why did not Jonathan Small
get the treasure himself？ The answer is obvious。 The chart is dated at a
time when Morstan was brought into close association with convicts。
Jonathan Small did not get the treasure because he and his associates were
themselves convicts and could not get away。〃
〃But that is mere speculation；〃 said I。
〃It is more than that。 It is the only hypothesis which covers the facts。
Let us see how it fits in with the sequel。 Major Sholto remains at peace
for some years； happy in the possession of his treasure。 Then he receives
a letter from India which gives him a great fright。 What was that？〃
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〃A letter to say that the men whom he had wronged had been set free。〃
〃Or had escaped。 That is much more likely； for he would have
known what their term of imprisonment was。 It would not have been a
surprise to him。 What does he do then？ He guards himself against a
wooden…legged man；a white man； mark you； for he mistakes a white
tradesman for him； and actually fires a pistol at him。 Now； only one
white man's name is on the chart。 The others are Hindoos or
Mohammedans。 There is no other white man。 Therefore we may say
with confidence that the wooden…legged man is identical with Jonathan
Small。 Does the reasoning strike yo as being faulty？〃
〃No： it is clear and concise。〃
〃Well； now； let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small。 Let
us look at it from his point of view。 He comes to England with the
double idea of regaining what he would consider to be his rights and of
having his revenge upon the man who had wronged him。 He found out
where Sholto lived； and very possibly he established communications with
some one inside the house。 There is this butler； Lal Rao； whom we have
not seen。 Mrs。 Bernstone gives him far from a good character。 Small
could not find out； however； where the treasure was hid； for no one ever
knew； save the major and one faithful servant who had died。 Suddenly
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 indication
