Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Naval Treaty
"No,awoman’s,andawomanofrarecharacter.Yousee,atthecommencementofaninvestigationitissomethingtoknowthatyourclientisinclosecontactwithsomeonewho,forgoodorevil,hasanexceptionalnature.Myinterestisalreadyawakenedinthecase.IfyouarereadywewillstartatonceforWokingandseethisdiplomatistwhoisinsuchevilcaseandtheladytowhomhedictateshisletters."
WewerefortunateenoughtocatchanearlytrainatWaterloo,andinalittleunderanhourwefoundourselvesamongthefir-woodsandtheheatherofWoking.Briarbraeprovedtobealargedetachedhousestandinginextensivegroundswithinafewminutes"walkofthestation.Onsendinginourcardswewereshownintoanelegantlyappointeddrawing-room,wherewewerejoinedinafewminutesbyaratherstoutmanwhoreceiveduswithmuchhospitality.Hisagemayhavebeennearerfortythanthirty,buthischeeksweresoruddyandhiseyessomerrythathestillconveyedtheimpressionofaplumpandmischievousboy.
"Iamsogladthatyouhavecome,"saidhe,shakingourhandswitheffusion."Percyhasbeeninquiringforyouallmorning.Ah,pooroldchap,heclingstoanystraw!Hisfatherandhismotheraskedmetoseeyou,forthemerementionofthesubjectisverypainfultothem."
"Wehavehadnodetailsyet,"observedHolmes."Iperceivethatyouarenotyourselfamemberofthefamily."
Ouracquaintancelookedsurprised,andthen,glancingdown,hebegantolaugh.
