Возвращение Шерлока Холмса

The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton

           Afootmanopenedthedoor,andasmall,stoutmaninashaggyastrakhanovercoatdescended.Aminutelaterhewasintheroom.

           CharlesAugustusMilvertonwasamanoffifty,withalarge,intellectualhead,around,plump,hairlessface,aperpetualfrozensmile,andtwokeengreyeyes,whichgleamedbrightlyfrombehindbroad,gold-rimmedglasses.TherewassomethingofMr.Pickwick’sbenevolenceinhisappearance,marredonlybytheinsincerityofthefixedsmileandbythehardglitterofthoserestlessandpenetratingeyes.Hisvoicewasassmoothandsuaveashiscountenance,asheadvancedwithaplumplittlehandextended,murmuringhisregretforhavingmissedusathisfirstvisit.Holmesdisregardedtheoutstretchedhandandlookedathimwithafaceofgranite.Milverton’ssmilebroadened,heshruggedhisshouldersremovedhisovercoat,foldeditwithgreatdeliberationoverthebackofachair,andthentookaseat.

           “Thisgentleman?”saidhe,withawaveinmydirection.“Isitdiscreet?Isitright?”

           “Dr.Watsonismyfriendandpartner.”

           “Verygood,Mr.Holmes.Itisonlyinyourclient’sintereststhatIprotested.Thematterissoverydelicate——”

           “Dr.Watsonhasalreadyheardofit.”

           “Thenwecanproceedtobusiness.YousaythatyouareactingforLadyEva.Hassheempoweredyoutoacceptmyterms?”

           “Whatareyourterms?”

           “Seventhousandpounds.”

           “Andthealternative?”

           “Mydearsir,itispainfulformetodiscussit,butifthemoneyisnotpaidonthe14th,therecertainlywillbenomarriageonthe18th.

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