Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Reigate Puzzle
ThetwoCunninghamswerebendingovertheprostratefigureofSherlockHolmes,theyoungerclutchinghisthroatwithbothhands,whiletheelderseemedtobetwistingoneofhiswrists.Inaninstantthethreeofushadtornthemawayfromhim,andHolmesstaggeredtohisfeet,verypaleandevidentlygreatlyexhausted.
"Arrestthesemen,Inspector,"hegasped.
"Onwhatcharge?"
"Thatofmurderingtheircoachman,WilliamKirwan."
Theinspectorstaredabouthiminbewilderment."Oh,comenow,Mr.Holmes,"saidheatlast,"I’msureyoudon‘treallymeanto—"
"Tut,man,lookattheirfaces!"criedHolmescurtly.
NevercertainlyhaveIseenaplainerconfessionofguiltuponhumancountenances.Theoldermanseemednumbedanddazed,withaheavy,sullenexpressionuponhisstronglymarkedface.Theson,ontheotherhand,haddroppedallthatjaunty,dashingstylewhichhadcharacterizedhim,andtheferocityofadangerouswildbeastgleamedinhisdarkeyesanddistortedhishandsomefeatures.Theinspectorsaidnothing,but,steppingtothedoor,heblewhiswhistle.Twoofhisconstablescameatthecall.
"Ihavenoalternative,Mr.Cunningham,"saidhe."Itrustthatthismayallprovetobeanabsurdmistake,butyoucanseethatAh,wouldyou?Dropit!"Hestruckoutwithhishand,andarevolverwhichtheyoungermanwasintheactofcockingclattereddownuponthefloor.
