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.
