Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Priory School
“Itisnottwelveo’clockyet.Hehascertainlybeenanearlystarter.”
Thepuckeredeyelidshadbeguntoquiver,andnowapairofvacantgreyeyeslookedupatus.Aninstantlaterthemanhadscrambledontohisfeet,hisfacecrimsonwithshame.
“Forgivethisweakness,Mr.Holmes,Ihavebeenalittleoverwrought.Thankyou,ifImighthaveaglassofmilkandabiscuit,IhavenodoubtthatIshouldbebetter.Icamepersonally,Mr.Holmes,inordertoinsurethatyouwouldreturnwithme.Ifearedthatnotelegramwouldconvinceyouoftheabsoluteurgencyofthecase.”
“Whenyouarequiterestored——”
“Iamquitewellagain.IcannotimaginehowIcametobesoweak.Iwishyou,Mr.Holmes,tocometoMackletonwithmebythenexttrain.”
Myfriendshookhishead.
“Mycolleague,Dr.Watson,couldtellyouthatweareverybusyatpresent.IamretainedinthiscaseoftheFerrersDocuments,andtheAbergavennymurderiscomingupfortrial.OnlyaveryimportantissuecouldcallmefromLondonatpresent.”
“Important!”Ourvisitorthrewuphishands.“HaveyouheardnothingoftheabductionoftheonlysonoftheDukeofHoldernesse?”
“What!thelateCabinetMinister?”
“Exactly.Wehadtriedtokeepitoutofthepapers,buttherewassomerumourintheGlobelastnight.Ithoughtitmighthavereachedyourears.”
Holmesshotouthislong,thinarmandpickedoutVolume“H”inhisencyclopædiaofreference.
“‘Holdernesse,6thDuke,K.G.,P.C.
