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made an actor； and a rare one。 You had the proper workhouse cough； and
those weak legs of yours are worth ten pound a week。 I thought I knew
the glint of your eye； though。 You didn't get away from us so easily； You
see。〃
〃I have been working in that get…up all day；〃 said he； lighting his cigar。
〃You see； a good many of the criminal classes begin to know me；
especially since our friend here took to publishing some of my cases： so
I can only go on the war…path under some simple disguise like this。 You
got my wire？〃
〃Yes； that was what brought me here。〃
〃How has your case prospered？〃
〃It has all come to nothing。 I have had to release two of my prisoners；
and there is no evidence against the other two。〃
〃Never mind。 We shall give you two others in the place of them。
But you must put yourself under my orders。 You are welcome to all the
official credit； but you must act on the line that I point out。 Is that
agreed？〃
〃Entirely； if you will help me to the men。〃
〃Well； then； in the first place I shall want a fast police…boat a steam
launchto be at the Westminster Stairs at seven o'clock。〃
〃That is easily managed。 There is always one about there； but I can
step across the road and telephone to make sure。〃
〃Then I shall want two stanch men； in case of resistance。〃
〃There will be two or three in the boat。 What else？〃
〃When we secure the men we shall get the treasure。 I think that it
would be a pleasure to my friend here to take the box round to the young
lady to whom half of it rightfully belongs。 Let her be the first to open it。…
…Eh； Watson？〃
〃It would be a great pleasure to me。〃
〃Rather an irregular proceeding；〃 said Jones； shaking his head。
〃However； the whole thing is irregular； and I suppose we must wink at it。
The treasure must afterwards be handed over to the authorities until after
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the official investigation。〃
〃Certainly。 That is easily managed。 One other point。 I should
much like to have a few details about this matter from the lips of Jonathan
Small himself。 You know I like to work the detail of my cases out。
There is no objection to my having an unofficial interview with him； either
here in my rooms or elsewhere； as long as he is efficiently guarded？〃
〃Well； you are master of the situation。 I have had no proof yet of the
existence of this Jonathan Small。 However； if you can catch him I don't
see how I can refuse you an interview with him。〃
〃That is understood； then？〃
〃Perfectly。 Is there anything else？〃
〃Only that I insist upon your dining with us。 It will be ready in half
an hour。 I have oysters and a brace of grouse； with something a little
choice in white wines。Watson； you have never yet recognized my merits
as a housekeeper。〃
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The Sign of the Four
CHAPTER X The End of the
Islander
Our meal was a merry one。 Holmes coud talk exceedingly well when
he chose； and that night he did choose。 He appeared to be in a state of
nervous exaltation。 I have never known him so brilliant。 He spoke on a
quick succession of subjects；on miracle…plays； on medieval pottery； on
Stradivarius violins； on the Buddhism of Ceylon； and on the war…ships of
the future； handling each as though he had made a special study of it。
His bright humor marked the reaction from his black depression of the
preceding days。 Athelney Jones proved to be a sociable soul in his hours
of relaxation； and face his dinner with the air of a bon vivant。 For myself；
I felt elated at the thought that we were nearing the end of our task； and I
caught something of Holmes's gaiety。 None of us alluded during dinner
to the cause which had brought us together。
When the cloth was cleared； Holmes glanced at this watch； and filled
up three glasses with port。 〃One bumper；〃 said he； 〃to the success of our
little expedition。 And now it is high time we were off。 Have you a
pistol； Watson？〃
〃I have my old service…revolver in my desk。〃
〃You had best take it； then。 It is well to be prepared。 I see that the
cab is at the door。 I ordered it for half…past six。〃
It was a little past seven before we reached the Westminster wharf； and
found our launch awaiting us。 Holmes eyed it critically。
〃Is there anything to mark it as a police…boat？〃
〃Yes；that green lamp at the side。〃
〃Then take it off。〃
The small change was made； we stepped on board； and the ropes were
cast off。 Jones； Holmes； and I sat in the stern。 There was one man at
the rudder； one to tend the engines； and two burly police…inspectors
forward。
〃Where to？〃 asked Jones。
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〃To the Tower。 Tell them to stop opposite Jacobson's Yard。〃
Our craft was evidently a very fast one。 We shot past the long lines
of loaded barges as though they were stationary。 Holmes smiled with
satisfaction as we overhauled a river steamer and left her behind us。
〃We ought to be able to catch anything on the river；〃 he said。
〃Well； hardly that。 But there are not many launches to beat us。〃
〃We shall have to catch the Aurora； and she has a name for being a
clipper。 I will tell you how the land lies； Watson。 You recollect how
annoyed I was at being balked by so small a thing？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； I gave my mind a thorough rest by plunging into a chemical
analysis。 One of our greatest statesmen has said that a change of work is
the best rest。 So it is。 When I had succeeded in dissolving the
hydrocarbon which I was at work at； I came back to our problem of the
Sholtos； and thought the whole matter out again。 My boys had been up
the river and down the river without result。 The launch was not at any
landing…stage or wharf； nor had it returned。 Yet it could hardly have been
scuttled to hide their traces；though that always remained as a possible
hypothesis if all else failed。 I knew this man Small had a certain degree
of low cunning； but I did not think him capable of anything in the nature
of delicate finesse。 That is usually a product of higher education。 I then
reflected that since he had certainly been in London some timeas we had
evidence that he maintained a continual watch over Pondicherry Lodge
he could hardly leave at a moment's notice； but would need some little
time； if it were only a day； to arrange his affairs。 That was the balance of
probability； at any rate。〃
〃It seems to me to be a little weak；〃 said I。 〃It is more probable that
he had arranged his affairs before ever he set out upon his expedition。〃
〃No； I hardly think so。 This lair of his would be too valuable a retreat
in case of need for him to give it up until he was sure that he could do
without it。 But a second consideration struck me。 Jonathan Small must
have felt that the peculiar appearance of his companion； however much he
may have top…coated him； would give rise to gossip； and possibly be
associated with this Norwood tragedy。 He was quite sharp enough to see
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that。 They had started from their head…quarters under cover of darkness；
and he would wish to get back before it was broad light。 Now； it was
past three o'clock； according to Mrs。 Smith； when they got the boat。 It
would be quite bright； and people would be about in an hour or so。
Therefore； I argued； they did not go very far。 They paid