Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton
Noarticleofvaluewastaken,asitisprobablethatthecriminalsweremenofgoodposition,whosesoleobjectwastopreventsocialexposure.”
“Criminals?”saidHolmes.“Plural?”
“Yes,thereweretwoofthem.Theywereasnearlyaspossiblecapturedred-handed.Wehavetheirfootmarks,wehavetheirdescription,it’stentoonethatwetracethem.Thefirstfellowwasabittooactive,butthesecondwascaughtbytheunder-gardener,andonlygotawayafterastruggle.Hewasamiddle-sized,stronglybuiltman—squarejaw,thickneck,moustache,amaskoverhiseyes.”
“That’srathervague,”saidSherlockHolmes.“My,itmightbeadescriptionofWatson!”
“It’strue,”saidtheinspector,withamusement.“ItmightbeadescriptionofWatson.”
“Well,I’mafraidIcan’thelpyou,Lestrade,”saidHolmes.“ThefactisthatIknewthisfellowMilverton,thatIconsideredhimoneofthemostdangerousmeninLondon,andthatIthinktherearecertaincrimeswhichthelawcannottouch,andwhichtherefore,tosomeextent,justifyprivaterevenge.No,it’snousearguing.Ihavemadeupmymind.Mysympathiesarewiththecriminalsratherthanwiththevictim,andIwillnothandlethiscase.”
Holmeshadnotsaidonewordtomeaboutthetragedywhichwehadwitnessed,butIobservedallthemorningthathewasinhismostthoughtfulmood,andhegavemetheimpression,fromhisvacanteyesandhisabstractedmanner,ofamanwhoisstrivingtorecallsomethingtohismemory.Wewereinthemiddleofourlunch,whenhesuddenlysprangtohisfeet
