Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist
Inallthebroadlandscapethoseweretheonlymovingfigures,thegracefulgirlsittingverystraightuponhermachine,andthemanbehindherbendinglowoverhishandle-barwithacuriouslyfurtivesuggestionineverymovement.Shelookedbackathimandslowedherpace.Heslowedalso.Shestopped.Heatoncestopped,too,keepingtwohundredyardsbehindher.Hernextmovementwasasunexpectedasitwasspirited.Shesuddenlywhiskedherwheelsroundanddashedstraightathim.Hewasasquickasshe,however,anddartedoffindesperateflight.Presentlyshecamebackuptheroadagain,herheadhaughtilyintheair,notdeigningtotakeanyfurthernoticeofhersilentattendant.Hehadturnedalso,andstillkepthisdistanceuntilthecurveoftheroadhidthemfrommysight.
Iremainedinmyhiding-place,anditwaswellthatIdidso,forpresentlythemanreappeared,cyclingslowlyback.HeturnedinattheHallgates,anddismountedfromhismachine.ForsomeminutesIcouldseehimstandingamongthetrees.Hishandswereraised,andheseemedtobesettlinghisnecktie.Thenhemountedhiscycle,androdeawayfrommedownthedrivetowardstheHall.Iranacrosstheheathandpeeredthroughthetrees.FarawayIcouldcatchglimpsesoftheoldgreybuildingwithitsbristlingTudorchimneys,butthedriveranthroughadenseshrubbery,andIsawnomoreofmyman.
However,itseemedtomethatIhaddoneafairlygoodmorning’swork,andIwalkedbackinhighspiritstoFarnham.ThelocalhouseagentcouldtellmenothingaboutCharlingtonHall,andreferredmetoawell-knownfirminPallMall.
