Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > the sign of the four(ÄÇËĸöµÄ¼ÇºÅ) >

µÚ7½Ú

the sign of the four(ÄÇËĸöµÄ¼ÇºÅ)-µÚ7½Ú

С˵£º the sign of the four(ÄÇËĸöµÄ¼ÇºÅ) ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




might¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡able¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡see¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡first¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡complete¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡confidence¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡his¡¡

discretion£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡orders£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡dissatisfied£»¡¡to¡¡proceed¡¡no¡¡further¡¡

in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡matter¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡excuse¡¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡precautions£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡am¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

somewhat¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡retiring£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡¡¡¡¡say¡¡¡¡¡¡refined£»¡¡¡¡¡¡tastes£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡

nothing¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡unaesthetic¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡policeman¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡natural¡¡¡¡¡¡shrinking¡¡

from¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡forms¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡rough¡¡¡¡¡¡materialism¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡seldom¡¡¡¡come¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡contact¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡the¡¡

rough¡¡crowd¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡live£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡see£»¡¡with¡¡some¡¡little¡¡atmosphere¡¡of¡¡elegance¡¡

around¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡may¡¡call¡¡myself¡¡a¡¡patron¡¡of¡¡the¡¡arts¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡my¡¡weakness¡£¡¡

The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡landscape¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡genuine¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Corot£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡¡¡¡¡though¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡connoisseur¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡

perhaps¡¡throw¡¡a¡¡doubt¡¡upon¡¡that¡¡Salvator¡¡Rosa£»¡¡there¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡the¡¡least¡¡

question¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Bouguereau¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡am¡¡¡¡¡¡partial¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡modern¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡French¡¡

school¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡will¡¡excuse¡¡me£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Sholto£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Miss¡¡Morstan£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡I¡¡am¡¡here¡¡

at¡¡your¡¡request¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡something¡¡which¡¡you¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡very¡¡

late£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡should¡¡desire¡¡the¡¡interview¡¡to¡¡be¡¡as¡¡short¡¡as¡¡possible¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨At¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡best¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡take¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡time£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡answered£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨for¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡shall¡¡

certainly¡¡have¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Norwood¡¡and¡¡see¡¡Brother¡¡Bartholomew¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡shall¡¡

all¡¡¡¡¡¡go¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡try¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡can¡¡¡¡¡¡get¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡better¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Brother¡¡¡¡¡¡Bartholomew¡£¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡

very¡¡angry¡¡with¡¡me¡¡for¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡course¡¡which¡¡has¡¡seemed¡¡right¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡

I¡¡had¡¡quite¡¡high¡¡words¡¡with¡¡him¡¡last¡¡night¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡cannot¡¡imagine¡¡what¡¡a¡¡

terrible¡¡fellow¡¡he¡¡is¡¡when¡¡he¡¡is¡¡angry¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡go¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Norwood¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡perhaps¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡well¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡start¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡

once£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡ventured¡¡to¡¡remark¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡laughed¡¡until¡¡his¡¡ears¡¡were¡¡quite¡¡red¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡would¡¡hardly¡¡do£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡

cried¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡he¡¡would¡¡say¡¡if¡¡I¡¡brought¡¡you¡¡in¡¡that¡¡sudden¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡23¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡24¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Sign¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Four¡¡



way¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡No£»¡¡I¡¡must¡¡prepare¡¡you¡¡by¡¡showing¡¡you¡¡how¡¡we¡¡all¡¡stand¡¡to¡¡each¡¡

other¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡first¡¡place£»¡¡I¡¡must¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡that¡¡there¡¡are¡¡several¡¡points¡¡in¡¡the¡¡

story¡¡of¡¡which¡¡I¡¡am¡¡myself¡¡ignorant¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡can¡¡only¡¡lay¡¡the¡¡facts¡¡before¡¡you¡¡

as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡I¡¡know¡¡them¡¡myself¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨My¡¡father¡¡was£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡may¡¡have¡¡guessed£»¡¡Major¡¡John¡¡Sholto£»¡¡once¡¡of¡¡

the¡¡Indian¡¡army¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡retired¡¡some¡¡eleven¡¡years¡¡ago£»¡¡and¡¡came¡¡to¡¡live¡¡at¡¡

Pondicherry¡¡Lodge¡¡in¡¡Upper¡¡Norwood¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡prospered¡¡in¡¡India£»¡¡and¡¡

brought¡¡back¡¡with¡¡him¡¡a¡¡considerable¡¡sum¡¡of¡¡money£»¡¡a¡¡large¡¡collection¡¡of¡¡

valuable¡¡curiosities£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡staff¡¡of¡¡native¡¡servants¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡these¡¡advantages¡¡

he¡¡¡¡¡¡bought¡¡¡¡¡¡himself¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡house£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡lived¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡luxury¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡¡¡¡¡twin¡­brother¡¡

Bartholomew¡¡and¡¡I¡¡were¡¡the¡¡only¡¡children¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡well¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡remember¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡sensation¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡caused¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

disappearance¡¡of¡¡Captain¡¡Morstan¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡read¡¡the¡¡details¡¡in¡¡the¡¡papers£»¡¡and£»¡¡

knowing¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡our¡¡father's£»¡¡we¡¡discussed¡¡the¡¡case¡¡

freely¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡presence¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡used¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡join¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡speculations¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡

could¡¡have¡¡happened¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Never¡¡for¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡did¡¡we¡¡suspect¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡the¡¡

whole¡¡secret¡¡hidden¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡breast£»that¡¡of¡¡all¡¡men¡¡he¡¡alone¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡

fate¡¡of¡¡Arthur¡¡Morstan¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡know£»¡¡¡¡¡¡however£»¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡mysterysome¡¡¡¡¡¡positive¡¡¡¡¡¡danger¡¡

overhung¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡father¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡fearful¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡going¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡alone£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡

always¡¡employed¡¡two¡¡prize¡­fighters¡¡to¡¡act¡¡as¡¡porters¡¡at¡¡Pondicherry¡¡Lodge¡£¡¡

Williams£»¡¡who¡¡drove¡¡you¡¡to¡­night£»¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡once¡¡light¡­¡¡

weight¡¡champion¡¡of¡¡England¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Our¡¡father¡¡would¡¡never¡¡tell¡¡us¡¡what¡¡it¡¡was¡¡

he¡¡feared£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡a¡¡most¡¡marked¡¡aversion¡¡to¡¡men¡¡with¡¡wooden¡¡legs¡£¡¡

On¡¡one¡¡occasion¡¡he¡¡actually¡¡fired¡¡his¡¡revolver¡¡at¡¡a¡¡wooden¡­legged¡¡man£»¡¡

who¡¡proved¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡harmless¡¡tradesman¡¡canvassing¡¡for¡¡orders¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡had¡¡to¡¡

pay¡¡a¡¡large¡¡sum¡¡to¡¡hush¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡brother¡¡and¡¡I¡¡used¡¡to¡¡think¡¡

this¡¡a¡¡mere¡¡whim¡¡of¡¡my¡¡father's£»¡¡but¡¡events¡¡have¡¡since¡¡led¡¡us¡¡to¡¡change¡¡

our¡¡opinion¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Early¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡1882¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡father¡¡¡¡¡¡received¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡letter¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡India¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

great¡¡¡¡¡¡shock¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡nearly¡¡¡¡¡¡fainted¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡breakfast¡­table¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡

opened¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡that¡¡day¡¡he¡¡sickened¡¡to¡¡his¡¡death¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡

letter¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡discover£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡see¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡held¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡

short¡¡and¡¡written¡¡in¡¡a¡¡scrawling¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡suffered¡¡for¡¡years¡¡from¡¡an¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡24¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡25¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Sign¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Four¡¡



enlarged¡¡spleen£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡now¡¡became¡¡rapidly¡¡worse£»¡¡and¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡

April¡¡we¡¡were¡¡informed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡beyond¡¡all¡¡hope£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡wished¡¡

to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡last¡¡communication¡¡to¡¡us¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨When¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡entered¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡room¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡propped¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡pillows¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡

breathing¡¡¡¡¡¡heavily¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡besought¡¡¡¡¡¡us¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡lock¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡door¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡come¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡

either¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡grasping¡¡our¡¡hands£»¡¡he¡¡made¡¡a¡¡remarkable¡¡

statement¡¡to¡¡us£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡which¡¡was¡¡broken¡¡as¡¡much¡¡by¡¡emotion¡¡as¡¡by¡¡

pain¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡try¡¡and¡¡give¡¡it¡¡to¡¡you¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡very¡¡words¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨'I¡¡have¡¡only¡¡one¡¡thing£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'which¡¡weighs¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡mind¡¡at¡¡this¡¡

supreme¡¡¡¡¡¡moment¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡treatment¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡poor¡¡¡¡¡¡Morstan's¡¡¡¡¡¡orphan¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡

cursed¡¡greed¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡besetting¡¡sin¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡withheld¡¡

from¡¡her¡¡the¡¡treasure£»¡¡half¡¡at¡¡least¡¡of¡¡which¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡hers¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡

yet¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡use¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡myself£»¡­¡¡¡¡¡¡¡­so¡¡¡¡¡¡blind¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡foolish¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡thing¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡

avarice¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡mere¡¡¡¡¡¡feeling¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡possession¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡dear¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

could¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡bear¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡share¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡another¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡See¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡chaplet¡¡¡¡¡¡dipped¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡

pearls¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡quinine¡­bottle¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Even¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡bear¡¡to¡¡part¡¡with£»¡¡

although¡¡I¡¡had¡¡got¡¡it¡¡out¡¡with¡¡the¡¡design¡¡of¡¡sending¡¡it¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You£»¡¡my¡¡

sons£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡give¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡fair¡¡¡¡¡¡share¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡Agra¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡treasure¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡send¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡

nothingnot¡¡even¡¡the¡¡chapletuntil¡¡I¡¡am¡¡gone¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡After¡¡all£»¡¡men¡¡have¡¡been¡¡

as¡¡bad¡¡as¡¡this¡¡and¡¡have¡¡recovered¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨'I¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡tell¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡how¡¡¡¡Morstan¡¡¡¡¡¡died£»'¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡continued¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'He¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡suffered¡¡

for¡¡years¡¡from¡¡a¡¡weak¡¡heart£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡concealed¡¡it¡¡from¡¡every¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡alone¡¡

knew¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡India£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I£»¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡remarkable¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡chain¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

circumstances£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡possession¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡considerable¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡treasure¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

brought¡¡it¡¡over¡¡to¡¡England£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡night¡¡of¡¡Morstan's¡¡arrival¡¡he¡¡came¡¡

straight¡¡over¡¡here¡¡to¡¡claim¡¡his¡¡share¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡walked¡¡over¡¡from¡¡the¡¡station£»¡¡

and¡¡was¡¡admitted¡¡by¡¡my¡¡faithful¡¡Lal¡¡Chowdar£»¡¡who¡¡is¡¡now¡¡dead¡£¡¡Morstan¡¡

and¡¡I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡difference¡¡of¡¡opinion¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡division¡¡of¡¡the¡¡treasure£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡

came¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡heated¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡words¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Morstan¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡sprung¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡chair¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡a¡¡

paroxysm¡¡of¡¡anger£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡suddenly¡¡pressed¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡his¡¡side£»¡¡his¡¡face¡¡

turned¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡dusky¡¡¡¡¡¡hue£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡fell¡¡¡¡¡¡backwards£»¡¡¡¡¡¡cutting¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡head¡¡¡¡¡¡against¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

corner¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡treasure¡­chest¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡stooped¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡found£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡

horror£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡dead¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨'For¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡long¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡sat¡¡¡¡¡¡half¡¡¡¡¡¡distracted£»¡¡¡¡¡¡wondering¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡should¡¡¡¡¡¡do¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡25¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡26¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Sign¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Four¡¡



My¡¡first¡¡impulse¡¡was£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡to¡¡call¡¡for¡¡assistance£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡but¡¡

recognize¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡every¡¡¡¡¡¡chance¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡accused¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡

murder¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡death¡¡at¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡a¡¡quarrel£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡gash¡¡in¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡

would¡¡be¡¡black¡¡against¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Again£»¡¡an¡¡official¡¡inquiry¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡made¡¡

without¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡bringing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡facts¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡treasure£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡was¡¡

particularly¡¡anxious¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡secret¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡told¡¡me¡¡that¡¡no¡¡soul¡¡upon¡¡earth¡¡

knew¡¡where¡¡he¡¡had¡¡gone¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡no¡¡necessity¡¡why¡¡any¡¡soul¡¡

ever¡¡should¡¡know¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨'I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡¡¡pondering¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡matter£»¡¡¡¡¡¡when£»¡¡¡¡¡¡looking¡¡¡¡¡¡up£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡saw¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡

servant£»¡¡Lal¡¡¡¡¡¡Chowdar£»¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡doorway¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡stole¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡bolted¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡door¡¡

behind¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡not¡¡fear£»¡¡Sahib£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No¡¡one¡¡need¡¡know¡¡that¡¡you¡¡

have¡¡killed¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Let¡¡us¡¡hide¡¡him¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡is¡¡the¡¡wiser£¿¡¨¡¡¡¨I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡

kill¡¡him£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡I¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Lal¡¡Chowdar¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡¡and¡¡smiled¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡heard¡¡it¡¡

all£»¡¡Sahib£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡heard¡¡you¡¡quarrel£»¡¡and¡¡

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨1£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ