"We were your trustees," he said; "that was the view which I took of it, though Brother Bartholomew could not altogether see it in that light.We had plenty of money ourselves.I desired no more.Besides, it would have been such bad taste to have treated a young lady in so scurvy a fashion.`Le mauvais gout mene au crime.' The French have a very neat way of putting these things.Our difference of opinion on this subject went so far that I thought it best to set up rooms for myself; so I left Pondicherry Lodge, taking the old khitmutgar and Williams with me.Yesterday, however, I learned that an event of extreme importance has occurred.The treasure has been discovered.Iinstantly communicated with Miss Morstan, and it only remains for us to drive out to Norwood and demand our share.I explained my views last night to Brother Bartholomew, so we shall be expected, if not welcome, visitors."Mr.Thaddeus Sholto ceased and sat twitching on his luxurious settee.We all remained silent, with our thoughts upon the new development which the mysterious business had taken.Holmes was the first to spring to his feet.
"You have done well, sir, from first to last," said he."It is possible that we may be able to make you some small return by throwing some light upon that which is still dark to you.But, as Miss Morstan remarked just now, it is late, and we had best put the matter through without delay."Our new acquaintance very deliberately coiled up the tube of his hookah and produced from behind a curtain a very long befrogged topcoat with astrakhan collar and cuffs.This he buttoned tightly up in spite of the extreme closeness of the night and finished his attire by putting on a rabbit-skin cap with hanging lappets which covered the ears, so that no part of him was visible save his mobile and peaky face.
"My health is somewhat fragile," he remarked as he led the way down the passage."I am compelled to be a valetudinarian."Our cab was awaiting us outside, and our programme was evidently prearranged, for the driver started off at once at a rapid pace.
Thaddeus Sholto talked incessantly in a voice which rose high above the rattle of the wheels.
"Bartholomew is a clever fellow," said he."How do you think he found out where the treasure was? He had come to the conclusion that it was somewhere indoors, so he worked out all the cubic space of the house and made measurements everywhere so that not one inch should be unaccounted for.Among other things, he found that the height of the building was seventy-four feet, but on adding together the heights of all the separate rooms and making every allowance for the space between, which he ascertained by borings, he could not bring the total to more than seventy feet.There were four feet unaccounted for.These could only be at the top of the building.He knocked a hole, therefore, in the lath and plaster ceiling of the highest room, and there, sure enough, he came upon another little garret above it, which had been sealed up and was known to no one.In the centre stood the treasure-chest resting upon two rafters.He lowered it through the hole, and there it lies.He computes the value of the jewels at not less than half a million sterling."At the mention of this gigantic sum we all stared at one another open-eyed.Miss Morstan, could we secure her rights, would change from a needy governess to the richest heiress in England.Surely it was the place of a loyal friend to rejoice at such news, yet I am ashamed to say that selfishness took me by the soul and that my heart turned as heavy as lead within me.I stammered out some few halting words of congratulation and then sat downcast, with my head drooped, deaf to the babble of our new acquaintance.He was clearly a confirmed hypochondriac, and I was dreamily conscious that he was pouring forth interminable trains of symptoms, and imploring information as to the composition and action of innumerable quack nostrums, some of which he bore about in a leather case in his pocket.I trust that he may not remember any of the answers which I gave him that night.
Holmes declares that he overheard me caution him against the great danger of taking more than two drops of castor-oil, while Irecommended strychnine in large doses as a sedative.However that may be, I was certainly relieved when our cab pulled up with a jerk and the coachman sprang down to open the door.
"This, Miss Morstan, is Pondicherry Lodge," said Mr.Thaddeus Sholto as he handed her out.
