Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Priory School
HisGracewasextremelydesiroustoavoidallpublicscandal.Hewasafraidofhisfamilyunhappinessbeingdraggedbeforetheworld.Hehasadeephorrorofanythingofthekind.”
“Buttherehasbeensomeofficialinvestigation?”
“Yes,sir,andithasprovedmostdisappointing.Anapparentcluewasatonceobtained,sinceaboyandayoungmanwerereportedtohavebeenseenleavinganeighbouringstationbyanearlytrain.OnlylastnightwehadnewsthatthecouplehadbeenhunteddowninLiverpool,andtheyprovetohavenoconnectionwhateverwiththematterinhand.Thenitwasthatinmydespairanddisappointment,afterasleeplessnight,Icamestraighttoyoubytheearlytrain.”
“Isupposethelocalinvestigationwasrelaxedwhilethisfalsecluewasbeingfollowedup?”
“Itwasentirelydropped.”
“Sothatthreedayshavebeenwasted.Theaffairhasbeenmostdeplorablyhandled.”
“Ifeelitandadmitit.”
“Andyettheproblemshouldbecapableofultimatesolution.Ishallbeveryhappytolookintoit.HaveyoubeenabletotraceanyconnectionbetweenthemissingboyandthisGermanmaster?”
“Noneatall.”
“Washeinthemaster’sclass?”
“No,heneverexchangedawordwithhim,sofarasIknow.”
“Thatiscertainlyverysingular.Hadtheboyabicycle?”
“No.”
“Wasanyotherbicyclemissing?”
“No.”
“Isthatcertain?”
“Quite.”
“Well,now,youdonotmeantoseriouslysuggestthatthisGermanrodeoffuponabicycleinthedeadofthenight,bearingtheboyinhisarms?”
“Certainlynot.
