Averypatientmanwasthatinspectorinthecab,foritwasawearytimebeforeIrejoinedhim.HisfacecloudedoverwhenIshowedhimtheemptybox.
“Theregoesthereward!”saidhe,gloomily.“Wherethereisnomoneythereisnopay.Thisnight’sworkwouldhavebeenworthatennereachtoSamBrownandmeifthetreasurehadbeenthere.”
“Mr.ThaddeusSholtoisarichman,”Isaid.“Hewillseethatyouarerewarded,treasureorno.”
Theinspectorshookhisheaddespondently,however.“It’sabadjob,”herepeated“andsoMr.AthelneyJoneswillthink.”
Hisforecastprovedtobecorrect,forthedetectivelookedblankenoughwhenIgottoBakerStreetandshowedhimtheemptybox.Theyhadonlyjustarrived,Holmes,theprisoner,andhe,fortheyhadchangedtheirplanssofarastoreportthemselvesatastationupontheway.Mycompanionloungedinhisarm-chairwithhisusuallistlessexpression,whileSmallsatstolidlyoppositetohimwithhiswoodenlegcockedoverhissoundone.AsIexhibitedtheemptyboxheleanedbackinhischairandlaughedaloud.
“Thisisyourdoing,Small,”saidAthelneyJones,angrily.
“Yes,Ihaveputitawaywhereyoushallneverlayhanduponit,”hecried,exultantly.“ItismytreasureandifIcan’thavethelootI’lltakedarnedgoodcarethatnooneelsedoes.Itellyouthatnolivingmanhasanyrighttoit,unlessitisthreemenwhoareintheAndamanconvict-barracksandmyself.IknownowthatIcannothavetheuseofit,andIknowthattheycannot.Ihaveactedallthroughforthemasmuchasformyself.It’sbeenthesignoffourwithusalways.WellIknowthattheywouldhavehadmedojustwhatIhavedone,andthrowthetreasureintotheThamesratherthanletitgotokithorkinofSholtoorofMorstan.ItwasnottomakethemrichthatwedidforAchmet.You’llfindthetreasurewherethekeyis,andwherelittleTongais.WhenIsawthatyourlaunchmustcatchus,Iputthelootawayinasafeplace.Therearenorupeesforyouthisjourney.”
“Youaredeceivingus,Small,”saidAthelneyJones,sternly.“IfyouhadwishedtothrowthetreasureintotheThamesitwouldhavebeeneasierforyoutohavethrownboxandall.”
“Easierformetothrow,andeasierforyoutorecover,”heanswered,withashrewd,sidelonglook.“Themanthatwascleverenoughtohuntmedowniscleverenoughtopickanironboxfromthebottomofariver.Nowthattheyarescatteredoverfivemilesorso,itmaybeaharderjob.Itwenttomyhearttodoit,though.Iwashalfmadwhenyoucameupwithus.However,there’snogoodgrievingoverit.I’vehadupsinmylife,andI’vehaddowns,butI’velearnednottocryoverspilledmilk.”
“Thisisaveryseriousmatter,Small,”saidthedetective.“Ifyouhadhelpedjustice,insteadofthwartingitinthisway,youwouldhavehadabetterchanceatyourtrial.”
“Justice!”snarledtheex-convict.“Aprettyjustice!Whoselootisthis,ifitisnotours?WhereisthejusticethatIshouldgiveituptothosewhohaveneverearnedit?LookhowIhaveearnedit!Twentylongyearsinthatfever-riddenswamp,alldayatworkunderthemangrove-tree,allnightchainedupinthefilthyconvict-huts,bittenbymosquitoes,rackedwithague,bulliedbyeverycursedblack-facedpolicemanwholovedtotakeitoutofawhiteman.ThatwashowIearnedtheAgratreasureandyoutalktomeofjusticebecauseIcannotbeartofeelthatIhavepaidthispriceonlythatanothermayenjoyit!Iwouldratherswingascoreoftimes,orhaveoneofTonga’sdartsinmyhide,thanliveinaconvict’scellandfeelthatanothermanisathiseaseinapalacewiththemoneythatshouldbemine.”Smallhaddroppedhismaskofstoicism,andallthiscameoutinawildwhirlofwords,whilehiseyesblazed,andthehandcuffsclankedtogetherwiththeimpassionedmovementofhishands.Icouldunderstand,asIsawthefuryandthepassionoftheman,thatitwasnogroundlessorunnaturalterrorwhichhadpossessedMajorSholtowhenhefirstlearnedthattheinjuredconvictwasuponhistrack.
“Youforgetthatweknownothingofallthis,”saidHolmesquietly.“Wehavenotheardyourstory,andwecannottellhowfarjusticemayoriginallyhavebeenonyourside.”
“Well,sir,youhavebeenveryfair-spokentome,thoughIcanseethatIhaveyoutothankthatIhavethesebraceletsuponmywrists.Still,Ibearnogrudgeforthat.Itisallfairandabove-board.IfyouwanttohearmystoryIhavenowishtoholditback.WhatIsaytoyouisGod’struth,everywordofit.Thankyouyoucanputtheglassbesidemehere,andI’llputmylipstoitifIamdry.
“IamaWorcestershiremanmyself,—bornnearPershore.IdaresayyouwouldfindaheapofSmallslivingtherenowifyouweretolook.Ihaveoftenthoughtoftakingalookroundthere,butthetruthisthatIwasnevermuchofacredittothefamily,andIdoubtiftheywouldbesoverygladtoseeme.Theywereallsteady,chapel-goingfolk,smallfarmers,well-knownandrespectedoverthecountry-side,whileIwasalwaysabitofarover.Atlast,however,whenIwasabouteighteen,Igavethemnomoretrouble,forIgotintoamessoveragirl,andcouldonlygetouto