Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist
”
Holmes’squietdayinthecountryhadasingulartermination,forhearrivedatBakerStreetlateintheevening,withacutlipandadiscolouredlumpuponhisforehead,besidesageneralairofdissipationwhichwouldhavemadehisownpersonthefittingobjectofaScotlandYardinvestigation.Hewasimmenselytickledbyhisownadventuresandlaughedheartilyasherecountedthem.
“Igetsolittleactiveexercisethatitisalwaysatreat,”saidhe.“YouareawarethatIhavesomeproficiencyinthegoodoldBritishsportofboxing.Occasionally,itisofservice,to-day,forexample,Ishouldhavecometoveryignominiousgriefwithoutit.”
Ibeggedhimtotellmewhathadoccurred.
“IfoundthatcountrypubwhichIhadalreadyrecommendedtoyournotice,andthereImademydiscreetinquiries.Iwasinthebar,andagarrulouslandlordwasgivingmeallthatIwanted.Williamsonisawhite-beardedman,andhelivesalonewithasmallstaffofservantsattheHall.Thereissomerumourthatheisorhasbeenaclergyman,butoneortwoincidentsofhisshortresidenceattheHallstruckmeaspeculiarlyunecclesiastical.Ihavealreadymadesomeinquiriesataclericalagency,andtheytellmethattherewasamanofthatnameinorders,whosecareerhasbeenasingularlydarkone.Thelandlordfurtherinformedmethatthereareusuallyweek-endvisitors—‘awarmlot,sir’—attheHall,andespeciallyonegentlemanwitharedmoustache,Mr.Woodleybyname,whowasalwaysthere.
