登陆注册
15706200000039

第39章

"'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 arunning 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 for their pains.Besides, it was my life or his when once he was in the fort.If he had got out, the whole business would come to light, and I should have been court- martialled and shot as likely as not; for people were not very lenient at a time like that.""Go on with your story," said Holmes, shortly.

"Well, we carried him in, Abdullah, Akbar, and I.A fine weight hewas, too, for all that he was so short.Mahomet Singh was left to guard the door.We took him to a place which the Sikhs had already prepared.It was some distance off, where a winding passage leads to a great empty hall, the brick walls of which were all crumbling to pieces.The earth floor had sunk in at one place, making a natural grave, so we left Achmet the merchant there, having first covered him over with loose bricks.This done, we all went back to the treasure.

"It lay where he had dropped it when he was first attacked.The box was the same which now lies open upon your table.A key was hung by a silken cord to that carved handle upon the top.We opened it, and the light of the lantern gleamed upon a collection of gems such as I have read of and thought about when I was a little lad at Pershore.It was blinding to look upon them.When we had feasted our eyes we took them all out and made a list of them.There were one hundred and forty-three diamonds of the first water, including one which has been called, I believe, 'the Great Mogul' and is said to be the second largest stone in existence.Then there were ninety-seven very fine emeralds, and one hundred and seventy rubies, some of which, however, were small.There were forty carbuncles, two hundred and ten sapphires, sixty-one agates, and a great quantity of beryls, onyxes, cats'-eyes, turquoises, and other stones, the very names of which I did not know at the time, though I have become more familiar with them since.Besides this, there were nearly three hundred very fine pearls, twelve of which were set in a gold coronet.By the way, these last had been taken out of the chest and were not there when I recovered it.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 莫负寒夏:后宫三千又何妨

    莫负寒夏:后宫三千又何妨

    学校表白告诉她,她是谁一个霸道的五太子什么时候来不好,一定要在她逃跑时来,还让她做他的王妃?他们只是配合打了场仗,就要面临婚姻之约
  • 鹿晗,可以爱吗

    鹿晗,可以爱吗

    鹿晗,前生我不爱你,今生我不知如何爱你,下世可以真正的爱你!
  • 白色眷恋

    白色眷恋

    因为不满皇马6比2的比分,中国青年律师沈星怒砸啤酒瓶,结果电光火石间,他穿越成了佛罗伦蒂诺的儿子,且看来自09年的小伙子如何玩转03年的欧洲足坛
  • 佛说护诸童子陀罗尼经

    佛说护诸童子陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 长笙劫

    长笙劫

    啥,作品介绍?我最讨厌作品介绍。就是个千把岁的老太太被少男撩的故事,爱看不看,倩女OL同人
  • 厄难君王

    厄难君王

    恨天恨地恨苍生,天地若不仁,毁灭为己任!乱人乱魔乱诸神,众生若不义,万物为刍狗!游山游水游人间,曾经失去的,而今全找回!拾情拾义拾群英,从前没有的,如今从头来!重温人间生死冷暖,重看万世轮回破灭!原来人间还有爱还有暖,还有着万事可供眷恋!今生若厄难仍然缠绕,我便做那厄运的王主宰厄难,斗乱天下!
  • 黑暗傀儡之杀手的旋律

    黑暗傀儡之杀手的旋律

    她,伊镜汐,有着乌黑的长发与血红眼眸;她是恶魔的宠儿、她是黑暗的杀手亦是黑暗的傀儡。她、妖艳的像一个妖精,血红的瞳孔仿佛像曼珠沙华的泪滴。她像个天使,更像个恶魔。冰冷、高傲、狠毒、邪魅。。。仿佛都是她的化身,又仿佛都不属于她、。。。她是【血魅阁】的阁主,也是伊氏集团老总的孙女。多样的身份,让人对她捉摸不透,可是、一切的一切都不是她想要的。她要的是……
  • 邪王萌妃:驯服克妻王爷

    邪王萌妃:驯服克妻王爷

    新时代超级特工,毒物研究院的骨干人员,MAD!居然死在绿茶婊手里。很好!本姑娘跳海好歹有全尸,一颗手雷让你死无全尸,灰飞烟灭。命不该绝,成为月夜王朝大将军府里,手不能提肩不能扛四小姐。没事,闲来无事绣绣花泡泡美男还是可以的。刚穿就要替嫡姐嫁给当朝战王,听说此王帅的天怒人怨,不仅文韬武略,更是擅长打仗······嘿嘿!那个啥,颜值高,那方面强就行了哈!要求不高!靠!克母克妻!还命在旦夕?搞得姐姐真的为他这人来的一样,明明是钱好吗?所以咱们拿了钱就走人,可是为毛······她不想走了呢?色心不改,没被踢怕,好!本姑娘有的是办法······软骨散加春药,慢慢享受吧!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 易心难属君:愿我们细水长流

    易心难属君:愿我们细水长流

    “我喜欢你,很久很久了....”女孩紧紧地拿着电话“但是我还是祝福你和她。”说完这句话女孩赶紧的挂断电话,眼泪也控制不住的留下来。青葱岁月,我愿把最好的我呈现给你,只是你却好像未曾认认真真的看待过。待我从对你的喜欢到爱在到绝望,那个时候在让我一人陪岁月看细水长流
  • 许你余笙欢喜

    许你余笙欢喜

    她的突然出现,打乱了他原本井井有条的生活。余欢用三年青春,苦苦追随许笙,但却不曾换来他的一个回头。因为父亲,她出国三年。却不知许笙一直在等她。