the sign of the four(那四个的记号)-第24章
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more still he has set by himself； for he is of a low nature and hoards his
gold rather than spend it。 When the troubles broke out he would be
friends both with the lion and the tiger；with the Sepoy and with the
Company's Raj。 Soon； however； it seemed to him that the white men's
day was come； for through all the land he could hear of nothing but of
their death and their overthrow。 Yet； being a careful man； he made such
plans that； come what might； half at least of his treasure should be left to
him。 That which was in gold and silver he kept by him in the vaults of
his palace； but the most precious stones and the choicest pearls that he had
he put in an iron box； and sent it by a trusty servant who； under the guise
of a merchant； should take it to the fort at Agra； there to lie until the land is
at peace。 Thus； if the rebels won he would have his money； but if the
Company conquered his jewels would be saved to him。 Having thus
divided his hoard； he threw himself into the cause of the Sepoys； since
they were strong upon his borders。 By doing this； mark you； Sahib； his
property becomes the due of those who have been true to their salt。
〃'This pretended merchant； who travels under the name of Achmet； is
now in the city of Agra； and desires to gain his way into the fort。 He has
with him as travelling…companion my foster…brother Dost Akbar； who
knows his secret。 Dost Akbar has promised this night to lead him to a
side…postern of the fort； and has chosen this one for his purpose。 Here he
will come presently； and here he will find Mahomet Singh and myself
awaiting him。 The place is lonely； and none shall know of his coming。
The world shall know of the merchant Achmet no more； but the great
treasure of the rajah shall be divided among us。 What say you to it；
Sahib？'
〃In Worcestershire the life of a man seems a great and a sacred thing；
but it is very different when there is fire and blood all round you and you
have been used to meeting death at every turn。 Whether Achmet the
merchant lived or died was a thing as light as air to me； but at the talk
about the treasure my heart turned to it； and I thought of what I might do
in the old country with it； and how my folk would stare when they saw
their ne'er…do…well coming back with his pockets full of gold moidores。 I
had； therefore； already made up my mind。 Abdullah Khan； however；
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thinking that I hesitated； pressed the matter more closely。
〃'Consider； Sahib；' said he； 'that if this man is taken by the
commandant he will be hung or shot； and his jewels taken by the
government； so that no man will be a rupee the better for them。 Now；
since we do the taking of him； why should we not do the rest as well？
The jewels will be as well with us as in the Company's coffers。 There
will be enough to make every one of us rich men and great chiefs。 No
one can know about the matter； for here we are cut off from all men。
What could be better for the purpose？ Say again； then； Sahib； whether
you are with us； or if we must look upon you as an enemy。'
〃'I am with you heart and soul；' said I。
〃'It is well；' he answered； handing me back my firelock。 'You see that
we trust you； for your word； like ours； is not to be broken。 We have now
only to wait for my brother and the merchant。'
〃'Does your brother know； then； of what you will do？' I asked。
〃'The plan is his。 He has devised it。 We will go to the gate and
share the watch with Mahomet Singh。'
〃The rain was still falling steadily； for it was just the beginning of the
wet season。 Brown； heavy clouds were drifting across the sky； and it was
hard to see more than a stone…cast。 A deep moat lay in front of our door；
but the water was in places nearly dried up； and it could easily be crossed。
It was strange to me to be standing there with those two wild Punjaubees
waiting for the man who was coming to his death。
〃Suddenly my eye caught the glint of a shaded lantern at the other side
of the moat。 It vanished among the mound…heaps； and then appeared
again coming slowly in our direction。
〃'Here they are！' I exclaimed。
〃'You will challenge him； Sahib； as usual；' whispered Abdullah。 'Give
him no cause for fear。 Send us in with him； and we shall do the rest
while you stay here on guard。 Have the lantern ready to uncover； that we
may be sure that it is indeed the man。'
〃The light had flickered onwards； now stopping and now advancing；
until I could see two dark figures upon the other side of the moat。 I let
them scramble down the sloping bank； splash through the mire； and climb
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half…way up to the gate； before I challenged them。
〃'Who goes there？' said I； in a subdued voice。
〃'Friends；' came the answer。 I uncovered my lantern and threw a
flood of light upon them。 The first was an enormous Sikh； with a black
beard which swept nearly down to his cummerbund。 Outside of a show I
have never seen so tall a man。 The other was a little； fat； round fellow；
with a great yellow turban； and a bundle in his hand； done up in a shawl。
He seemed to be all in a quiver with fear； for his hands twitched as if he
had the ague； and his head kept turning to left and right with two bright
little twinkling eyes； like a mouse when he ventures out from his hole。 It
gave me the chills to think of killing him； but I thought of the treasure； and
my heart set as hard as a flint within me。 When he saw my white face he
gave a little chirrup of joy and came running up towards me。
〃'Your protection； Sahib；' he panted；'your protection for the unhappy
merchant Achmet。 I have travelled across Rajpootana that I might seek
the shelter of the fort at Agra。 I have been robbed and beaten and abused
because I have been the friend of the Company。 It is a blessed night this
when I am once more in safety；I and my poor possessions。'
〃'What have you in the bundle？' I asked。
〃'An iron box；' he answered； 'which contains one or two little family
matters which are of no value to others； but which I should be sorry to lose。
Yet I am not a beggar； and I shall reward you； young Sahib； and your
governor also； if he will give me the shelter I ask。'
〃I could not trust myself to speak longer with the man。 The more I
looked at his fat； frightened face； the harder did it seem that we should
slay him in cold blood。 It was best to get it over。
〃'Take him to the main guard；' said I。 The two Sikhs closed in upon
him on each side； and the giant walked behind； while they marched in
through the dark gate…way。 Never was a man so compassed round with
death。 I remained at the gate…way with the lantern。
〃I could hear the measured tramp of their footsteps sounding through
the lonely corridors。 Suddenly it ceased； and I heard voices； and a scuffle；
with the sound of blows。 A moment later there came； to my horror； a
rush of footsteps coming in my direction； with the loud breathing of a
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running man。 I turned my lantern down the long； straight passage； and
there was the fat man； running like the wind； with a smear of blood across
his face； and close at his heels； bounding like a tiger； the great black…
bearded Sikh； with a knife flashing in his hand。 I have never seen a man
run so fast as that little merchant。 He was gaining on the Sikh； and I
could see that if he once passed me and got to the open air he would save
himself yet。 My heart softened to him； but again the thought of his
treasure turned me hard and bitter。 I cast my firelock between his legs as
he raced past； and he rolled twice over like a shot rabbit。 Ere he could
stagger to his feet the Sikh was upon him； and buried his knife twice in his
side。 The man never uttered moan nor moved muscle； but lay were he
had fallen。 I think myself that he may have broken his neck with the fall。
You see； gentlemen； that I am keeping my promise。 I am telling you
every work of the business just exactly as it happened； whether it is in my
favor or not。〃
He stopped； and held out his manacled hands for the whiskey…and…
water which Holmes had brewed for him。 For myself； I confess that I
had now conceived the utmost horror of the man； not only for this cold…
blooded business in which he had been concerned； but even more for the
somewhat flippant and careless way in which he narrated it。 Whatever
punishment was in store for him； I felt that he might expect no sympathy
from me。 Sherlock Holmes and Jones sat with their hands upon their
knees； deeply interested in the story； but with the same disgust written
upon their faces。 He may have observed it； for there was a touch of
defiance in his voice and manner as he proceeded。
〃It was all very bad； no doubt；〃 said he。 〃I should like to know how
many fellows in my shoes would have refused a share of this loot when
they knew that they would have their throats cut f
