“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.