the sign of the four(那四个的记号)-第18部分
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〃Worse and worse！ Our men would know that the chase was hot at
their heels； and they would be off out of the country。 As it is； they are
likely enough to leave； but as long as they think they are perfectly safe
they will be in no hurry。 Jones's energy will be of use to us there； for his
view of the case is sure to push itself into the daily press； and the
runaways will think that every one is off on the wrong scent。〃
〃What are we to do； then？〃 I asked； as we landed near Millbank
Penitentiary。
〃Take this hansom； drive home； have some breakfast； and get an hour's
sleep。 It is quite on the cards that we may be afoot to… night again。 Stop
at a telegraph…office； cabby！ We will keep Toby； for he may be of use to
us yet。〃
We pulled up at the Great Peter Street post…office； and Holmes
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despatched his wire。 〃Whom do you think that is to？〃 he asked； as we
resumed our journey。
〃I am sure I don't know。〃
〃You remember the Baker Street division of the detective police force
whom I employed in the Jefferson Hope case？〃
〃Well；〃 said I； laughing。
〃This is just the case where they might be invaluable。 If they fail； I
have other resources； but I shall try them first。 That wire was to my dirty
little lieutenant； Wiggins； and I expect that he and his gang will be with us
before we have finished our breakfast。〃
It was between eight and nine o'clock now； and I was conscious of a
strong reaction after the successive excitements of the night。 I was limp
and weary； befogged in mind and fatigued in body。 I had not the
professional enthusiasm which carried my companion on； nor could I look
at the matter as a mere abstract intellectual problem。 As far as the death
of Bartholomew Sholto went； I had heard little good of him； and could feel
no intense antipathy to his murderers。 The treasure； however； was a
different matter。 That； or part of it； belonged rightfully to Miss Morstan。
While there was a chance of recovering it I was ready to devote my life to
the one object。 True； if I found it it would probably put her forever
beyond my reach。 Yet it would be a petty and selfish love which would
be influenced by such a thought as that。 If Holmes could work to find the
criminals； I had a tenfold stronger reason to urge me on to find the
treasure。
A bath at Baker Street and a complete change freshened me up
wonderfully。 When I came down to our room I found the breakfast laid
and Homes pouring out the coffee。
〃Here it is；〃 said he； laughing； and pointing to an open newspaper。
〃The energetic Jones and the ubiquitous reporter have fixed it up between
them。 But you have had enough of the case。 Better have your ham and
eggs first。〃
I took the paper from him and read the short notice； which was headed
〃Mysterious Business at Upper Norwood。〃
〃About twelve o'clock last night；〃 said the Standard； 〃Mr。
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Bartholomew Sholto； of Pondicherry Lodge； Upper Norwood； was found
dead in his room under circumstances which point to foul play。 As far as
we can learn； no actual traces of violence were found upon Mr。 Sholto's
person； but a valuable collection of Indian gems which the deceased
gentleman had inherited from his father has been carried off。 The
discovery was first made by Mr。 Sherlock Holmes and Dr。 Watson； who
had called at the house with Mr。 Thaddeus Sholto； brother of the deceased。
By a singular piece of good fortune； Mr。 Athelney Jones； the well…known
member of the detective police force； happened to be at the Norwood
Police Station； and was on the ground within half an hour of the first alarm。
His trained and experienced faculties were at once directed towards the
detection of the criminals； with the gratifying result that the brother；
Thaddeus Sholto； has already been arrested； together with the housekeeper；
Mrs。 Bernstone； an Indian butler named Lal Rao； and a porter； or
gatekeeper； named McMurdo。 It is quite certain that the thief or thieves
were well acquainted with the house； for Mr。 Jones's well…known technical
knowledge and his powers of minute observation have enabled him to
prove conclusively that the miscreants could not have entered by the door
or by the window； but must have made their way across the roof of the
building； and so through a trap…door into a room which communicated
with that in which the body was found。 This fact； which has been very
clearly made out； proves conclusively that it was no mere haphazard
burglary。 The prompt and energetic action of the officers of the law
shows the great advantage of the presence on such occasions of a single
vigorous and masterful mind。 We cannot but think that it supplies an
argument to those who would wish to see our detectives more
decentralized； and so brought into closer and more effective touch with the
cases which it is their duty to investigate。〃
〃Isn't it gorgeous！〃 said Holmes； grinning over his coffee…cup。 〃What
do you think of it？〃
I think that we have had a close shave ourselves of being arrested for
the crime。〃
〃So do I。 I wouldn't answer for our safety now； if he should happen
to have another of his attacks of energy。〃
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At this moment there was a loud ring at the bell； and I could hear Mrs。
Hudson； our landlady； raising her voice in a wail of expostulation and
dismay。
〃By heaven； Holmes；〃 I said； half rising； 〃I believe that they are really
after us。〃
〃No； it's not quite so bad as that。 It is the unofficial force；the Baker
Street irregulars。〃
As he spoke； there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs；
a clatter of high voices； and in rushed a dozen dirty and ragged little street…
Arabs。 There was some show of discipline among them； despite their
tumultuous entry； for they instantly drew up in line and stood facing us
with expectant faces。 One of their number； taller and older than the
others； stood forward with an air of lounding superiority which was very
funny in such a disreputable little carecrow。
〃Got your message； sir；〃 said he； 〃and brought 'em on sharp。 Three
bob and a tanner for tickets。〃
〃Here you are；〃 said Holmes； producing some silver。 〃In future they
can report to you； Wiggins； and you to me。 I cannot have the house
invaded in this way。 However； it is just as well that you should all hear
the instructions。 I want to find the whereabouts of a steam launch called
the Aurora； owner Mordecai Smith； black with two red streaks； funnel
black with a white band。 She is down the river somewhere。 I want one
boy to be at Mordecai Smith's landing…stage opposite Millbank to say if
the boat comes back。 You must divide it out among yourselves； and do
both banks thoroughly。 Let me know the moment yo have news。 Is that
all clear？〃
〃Yes； guv'nor；〃 said Wiggins。
〃The old scale of pay； and a guinea to the boy who finds the boat。
Here's a day in advance。 Now off you go！〃 He handed them a shilling
each； and away they buzzed down the stairs； and I saw them a moment
later streaming down the street。
〃If the launch is above water they will find her；〃 said Holmes； as he
rose from the table and lit his pipe。 〃They can go everywhere； see
everything； overhear every one。 I expect to hear before evening that they
