Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter I. I Go to Styles
Hervolubility,whichIrememberedofold,hadlostnothingintheinterveningyears,andshepouredoutasteadyfloodofconversation,mainlyonthesubjectoftheforthcomingbazaarwhichshewasorganizingandwhichwastotakeplaceshortly.Occasionallyshereferredtoherhusbandoveraquestionofdaysordates.Hiswatchfulandattentivemannernevervaried.FromtheveryfirstItookafirmandrooteddisliketohim,andIflattermyselfthatmyfirstjudgmentsareusuallyfairlyshrewd.
PresentlyMrs.InglethorpturnedtogivesomeinstructionsaboutletterstoEvelynHoward,andherhusbandaddressedmeinhispainstakingvoice:
“Issoldieringyourregularprofession,Mr.Hastings?”
“No,beforethewarIwasinLloyd’s.”
“Andyouwillreturnthereafteritisover?”
“Perhaps.Eitherthatorafreshstartaltogether.”
MaryCavendishleantforward.
“Whatwouldyoureallychooseasaprofession,ifyoucouldjustconsultyourinclination?”
“Well,thatdepends.”
“Nosecrethobby?”sheasked.“Tellme—you’redrawntosomething?Everyoneis—usuallysomethingabsurd.”
“You’lllaughatme.”
Shesmiled.
“Perhaps.”
“Well,I’vealwayshadasecrethankeringtobeadetective!”
“Therealthing—ScotlandYard?OrSherlockHolmes?”
“Oh,SherlockHolmesbyallmeans.Butreally,seriously,Iamawfullydrawntoit.IcameacrossamaninBelgiumonce,averyfamousdetective,andhequiteinflamedme.Hewasamarvellouslittlefellow.
