Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Stock-Broker’s Clerk
"
"Youdeducedit,then?"
"Certainly."
"Andfromwhat?"
"Fromyourslippers."
Iglanceddownatthenewpatent-leatherswhichIwaswearing."Howonearth—"Ibegan,butHolmesansweredmyquestionbeforeitwasasked.
"Yourslippersarenew,"hesaid."Youcouldnothavehadthemmorethanafewweeks.Thesoleswhichyouareatthismomentpresentingtomeareslightlyscorched.ForamomentIthoughttheymighthavegotwetandbeenburnedinthedrying.Butneartheinstepthereisasmallcircularwaferofpaperwiththeshopman’shieroglyphicsuponit.Dampwouldofcoursehaveremovedthis.Youhad,then,beensittingwithyourfeetoutstretchedtothefire,whichamanwouldhardlydoeveninsowetaJuneasthisifhewereinhisfullhealth."
LikeallHolmes’sreasoningthethingseemedsimplicityitselfwhenitwasonceexplained.Hereadthethoughtuponmyfeatures,andhissmilehadatingeofbitterness.
"IamafraidthatIrathergivemyselfawaywhenIexplain."saidhe."Resultswithoutcausesaremuchmoreimpressive.YouarereadytocometoBirmingham,then?"
"Certainly.Whatisthecase?"
"Youshallhearitallinthetrain.Myclientisoutsideinafour-wheeler.Canyoucomeatonce?"
"Inaninstant."Iscribbledanotetomyneighbour,rushedupstairstoexplainthemattertomywife,andjoinedHolmesuponthedoorstep.
