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〃'Who goes there？' said I； in a subdued voice。
〃'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 a
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running 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 he
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was； 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 r