Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Reigate Puzzle
Nearthefootofthebedstoodadishoforangesandacarafeofwater.AswepasseditHolmes,tomyunutterableastonishment,leanedoverinfrontofmeanddeliberatelyknockedthewholethingover.Theglasssmashedintoathousandpiecesandthefruitrolledaboutintoeverycorneroftheroom.
"You’vedoneitnow,Watson,"saidhecoolly."Aprettymessyou’vemadeofthecarpet."
Istoopedinsomeconfusionandbegantopickupthefruit,understandingforsomereasonmycompaniondesiredmetotaketheblameuponmyself.Theothersdidthesameandsetthetableonitslegsagain.
"Hullo!"criedtheinspector,"where’shegotto?"
Holmeshaddisappeared.
"Waithereaninstant,"saidyoungAlecCunningham."Thefellowisoffhishead,inmyopinion.Comewithme,father,andseewherehehasgotto!"
Theyrushedoutoftheroom,leavingtheinspector,thecolonel,andmestaringateachother.
"‘Ponmyword,IaminclinedtoagreewithMasterAlec,"saidtheofficial."Itmaybetheeffectofthisillness,butitseemstomethat—"
Hiswordswerecutshortbyasuddenscreamof"Help!Help!Murder!"WithathrillIrecognizedthevoiceasthatofmyfriend.Irushedmadlyfromtheroomontothelanding.Thecrieswhichhadsunkdownintoahoarse,inarticulateshouting,camefromtheroomwhichwehadfirstvisited.Idashedin,andonintothedressing-roombeyond.
