Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
ButBeppowascondemnedtoayear’simprisonment,andinthemeanwhilehissixbustswerescatteredoverLondon.Hecouldnottellwhichcontainedhistreasure.Onlybybreakingthemcouldhesee.Evenshakingwouldtellhimnothing,forastheplasterwaswetitwasprobablethatthepearlwouldadheretoit—as,infact,ithasdone.Beppodidnotdespair,andheconductedhissearchwithconsiderableingenuityandperseverance.ThroughacousinwhoworkswithGelder,hefoundouttheretailfirmswhohadboughtthebusts.HemanagedtofindemploymentwithMorseHudson,andinthatwaytrackeddownthreeofthem.Thepearlwasnotthere.Then,withthehelpofsomeItalianemployee,hesucceededinfindingoutwheretheotherthreebustshadgone.ThefirstwasatHarker’s.Therehewasdoggedbyhisconfederate,whoheldBepporesponsibleforthelossofthepearl,andhestabbedhiminthescufflewhichfollowed.”
“Ifhewashisconfederate,whyshouldhecarryhisphotograph?”Iasked.
“Asameansoftracinghim,ifhewishedtoinquireabouthimfromanythirdperson.Thatwastheobviousreason.Well,afterthemurderIcalculatedthatBeppowouldprobablyhurryratherthandelayhismovements.Hewouldfearthatthepolicewouldreadhissecret,andsohehastenedonbeforetheyshouldgetaheadofhim.Ofcourse,IcouldnotsaythathehadnotfoundthepearlinHarker’sbust.
