holto,withwhomIhadnoquarrelwhatever.”
“YouareunderthechargeofMr.AthelneyJones,ofScotlandYard.Heisgoingtobringyouuptomyrooms,andIshallaskyouforatrueaccountofthematter.Youmustmakeacleanbreastofit,forifyoudoIhopethatImaybeofusetoyou.IthinkIcanprovethatthepoisonactssoquicklythatthemanwasdeadbeforeeveryoureachedtheroom.”
“Thathewas,sir.InevergotsuchaturninmylifeaswhenIsawhimgrinningatmewithhisheadonhisshoulderasIclimbedthroughthewindow.Itfairlyshookme,sir.I’dhavehalfkilledTongaforitifhehadnotscrambledoff.Thatwashowhecametoleavehisclub,andsomeofhisdartstoo,ashetellsme,whichIdaresayhelpedtoputyouonourtrackthoughhowyoukeptonitismorethanIcantell.Idon’tfeelnomaliceagainstyouforit.Butitdoesseemaqueerthing,”headded,withabittersmile,“thatIwhohaveafairclaimtonighuponhalfamillionofmoneyshouldspendthefirsthalfofmylifebuildingabreakwaterintheAndamans,andamliketospendtheotherhalfdiggingdrainsatDartmoor.ItwasanevildayformewhenfirstIclappedeyesuponthemerchantAchmetandhadtodowiththeAgratreasure,whichneverbroughtanythingbutacurseyetuponthemanwhoownedit.Tohimitbroughtmurder,toMajorSholtoitbroughtfearandguilt,tomeithasmeantslaveryforlife.”
AtthismomentAthelneyJonesthrusthisbroadfaceandheavyshouldersintothetinycabin.“Quiteafamilyparty,”heremarked.“IthinkIshallhaveapullatthatflask,Holmes.Well,Ithinkwemayallcongratulateeachother.Pitywedidn’ttaketheotheralivebuttherewasnochoice.Isay,Holmes,youmustconfessthatyoucutitratherfine.Itwasallwecoulddotooverhaulher.”
“Alliswellthatendswell,”saidHolmes.“ButIcertainlydidnotknowthattheAurorawassuchaclipper.”
“Smithsayssheisoneofthefastestlaunchesontheriver,andthatifhehadhadanothermantohelphimwiththeenginesweshouldneverhavecaughther.HeswearsheknewnothingofthisNorwoodbusiness.”
“Neitherhedid,”criedourprisoner,—“notaword.IchosehislaunchbecauseIheardthatshewasaflier.Wetoldhimnothing,butwepaidhimwell,a