the sign of the four(那四个的记号)-第6节
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looked into my tent at the dead of night； and how I fired a double…barrelled
tiger cub at it。 At first I had some idea as to the direction in which we
were driving； but soon； what with our pace； the fog； and my own limited
knowledge of London； I lost my bearings； and knew nothing； save that we
seemed to be going a very long way。 Sherlock Holmes was never at fault；
however； and he muttered the names as the cab rattled through squares and
in and out by tortuous by…streets。
〃Rochester Row；〃 said he。 〃Now Vincent Square。 Now we come
out on the Vauxhall Bridge Road。 We are making for the Surrey side；
apparently。 Yes； I thought so。 Now we are on the bridge。 You can
catch glimpses of the river。〃
We did indeed bet a fleeting view of a stretch of the Thames with the
lamps shining upon the broad； silent water； but our cab dashed on； and
was soon involved in a labyrinth of streets upon the other side。
〃Wordsworth Road；〃 said my companion。 〃Priory Road。 Lark Hall
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Lane。 Stockwell Place。 Robert Street。 Cold Harbor Lane。 Our quest
does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions。〃
We had； indeed； reached a questionable and forbidding neighborhood。
Long lines of dull brick houses were only relieved by the coarse glare and
tawdry brilliancy of public houses at the corner。 Then came rows of two…
storied villas each with a fronting of miniature garden； and then again
interminable lines of new staring brick buildings；the monster tentacles
which the giant city was throwing out into the country。 At last the cab
drew up at the third house in a new terrace。 None of the other houses
were inhabited； and that at which we stopped was as dark as its neighbors；
save for a single glimmer in the kitchen window。 On our knocking；
however； the door was instantly thrown open by a Hindoo servant clad in a
yellow turban； white loose… fitting clothes； and a yellow sash。 There was
something strangely incongruous in this Oriental figure framed in the
commonplace door…way of a third…rate suburban dwelling…house。
〃The Sahib awaits you；〃 said he； and even as he spoke there came a
high piping voice from some inner room。 〃Show them in to me；
khitmutgar；〃 it cried。 〃Show them straight in to me。〃
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The Sign of the Four
CHAPTER IV The Story of the
Bald…Headed Man
We followed the Indian down a sordid and common passage； ill lit and
worse furnished； until he came to a door upon the right； which he threw
open。 A blaze of yellow light streamed out upon us； and in the centre of
the glare there stood a small man with a very high head； a bristle of red
hair all round the fringe of it； and a bald； shining scalp which shot out
from among it like a mountain…peak from fir…trees。 He writhed his hands
together as he stood； and his features were in a perpetual jerk； now smiling；
now scowling； but never for an instant in repose。 Nature had given him a
pendulous lip； and a too visible line of yellow and irregular teeth； which
he strove feebly to conceal by constantly passing his hand over the lower
part of his face。 In spite of his obtrusive baldness； he gave the
impression of youth。 In point of fact he had just turned his thirtieth year。
〃Your servant； Miss Morstan；〃 he kept repeating； in a thin； high voice。
〃Your servant； gentlemen。 Pray step into my little sanctum。 A small
place； miss； but furnished to my own liking。 An oasis of art in the
howling desert of South London。〃
We were all astonished by the appearance o the apartment into which
he invited us。 In that sorry house it looked as out of place as a diamond
of the first water in a setting of brass。 The richest and glossiest of
curtains and tapestries draped the walls； looped back here and there to
expose some richly…mounted painting or Oriental vase。 The carpet was
of amber…and…black； so soft and so thick that the foot sank pleasantly into
it； as into a bed of moss。 Two great tiger…skins thrown athwart it
increased the suggestion of Eastern luxury； as did a huge hookah which
stood upon a mat in the corner。 A lamp in the fashion of a silver dove
was hung from an almost invisible golden wire in the centre of the room。
As it burned it filled the air with a subtle and aromatic odor。
〃Mr。 Thaddeus Sholto；〃 said the little man； still jerking and smiling。
〃That is my name。 You are Miss Morstan； of course。 And these
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gentlemen〃
〃This is Mr。 Sherlock Holmes； and this is Dr。 Watson。〃
〃A doctor； eh？〃 cried he； much excited。 〃Have you your stethoscope？
Might I ask youwould you have the kindness？ I have grave doubts as
to my mitral valve； if you would be so very good。 The aortic I may rely
upon； but I should value your opinion upon the mitral。〃
I listened to his heart； as requested； but was unable to find anything
amiss； save indeed that he was in an ecstasy of fear； for he shivered from
head to foot。 〃It appears to be normal；〃 I said。 〃You have no cause for
uneasiness。〃
〃You will excuse my anxiety； Miss Morstan；〃 he remarked； airily。 〃I
am a great sufferer； and I have long had suspicions as to that valve。 I am
delighted to hear that they are unwarranted。 Had your father； Miss
Morstan； refrained from throwing a strain upon his heart； he might have
been alive now。〃
I could have struck the man across the face； so hot was I at this callous
and off…hand reference to so delicate a matter。 Miss Morstan sat down；
and her face grew white to the lips。 〃I knew in my heart that he was
dead；〃 said she。
〃I can give you every information；〃 said he； 〃and； what is more； I can
do you justice； and I will； too； whatever Brother Bartholomew may say。 I
am so glad to have your friends here； not only as an escort to you； but also
as witnesses to what I am about to do and say。 The three of us can show
a bold front to Brother Bartholomew。 But let us have no outsiders；no
police or officials。 We can settle everything satisfactorily among
ourselves； without any interference。 Nothing would annoy Brother
Bartholomew more than any publicity。〃 He sat down upon a low settee
and blinked at us inquiringly with his weak； watery blue eyes。 〃For my
part；〃 said Holmes； 〃whatever you may choose to say will go no further。〃
I nodded to show my agreement。
〃That is well！ That is well！〃 said he。 〃May I offer you a glass of
Chianti； Miss Morstan？ Or of Tokay？ I keep no other wines。 Shall I
open a flask？ No？ Well； then； I trust that you have no objection to
tobacco…smoke； to the mild balsamic odor of the Eastern tobacco。 I am a
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little nervous； and I find my hookah an invaluable sedative。〃 He applied
a taper to the great bowl； and the smoke bubbled merrily through the rose…
water。 We sat all three in a semicircle； with our heads advanced； and our
chins upon our hands； while the strange； jerky little fellow； with his high；
shining head； puffed uneasily in the centre。
〃When I first determined to make this communication to you；〃 said he；
〃I might have given you my address； but I feared that you might disregard
my request and bring unpleasant people with you。 I took the liberty；
therefore； of making an appointment in such a way that my man Williams
might be able to see you first。 I have complete confidence in his
di
