Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
Itrepresentedanalert,sharp-featuredsimianman,withthickeyebrowsandaverypeculiarprojectionofthelowerpartoftheface,likethemuzzleofababoon.
“Andwhatbecameofthebust?”askedHolmes,afteracarefulstudyofthispicture.
“Wehadnewsofitjustbeforeyoucame.IthasbeenfoundinthefrontgardenofanemptyhouseinCampdenHouseRoad.Itwasbrokenintofragments.Iamgoingroundnowtoseeit.Willyoucome?”
“Certainly.Imustjusttakeonelookround.”Heexaminedthecarpetandthewindow.“Thefellowhadeitherverylonglegsorwasamostactiveman,”saidhe.“Withanareabeneath,itwasnomeanfeattoreachthatwindowledgeandopenthatwindow.Gettingbackwascomparativelysimple.Areyoucomingwithustoseetheremainsofyourbust,Mr.Harker?”
Thedisconsolatejournalisthadseatedhimselfatawriting-table.
“Imusttryandmakesomethingofit,”saidhe,“thoughIhavenodoubtthatthefirsteditionsoftheeveningpapersareoutalreadywithfulldetails.It’slikemyluck!YourememberwhenthestandfellatDoncaster?Well,Iwastheonlyjournalistinthestand,andmyjournaltheonlyonethathadnoaccountofit,forIwastooshakentowriteit.AndnowI’llbetoolatewithamurderdoneonmyowndoorstep.”
Aswelefttheroom,weheardhispentravellingshrillyoverthefoolscap.
Thespotwherethefragmentsofthebusthadbeenfoundwasonlyafewhundredyardsaway.
