Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez
ItwasyoungStanleyHopkins,apromisingdetective,inwhosecareerHolmeshadseveraltimesshownaverypracticalinterest.
“Ishein?”heasked,eagerly.
“Comeup,mydearsir,”saidHolmes’svoicefromabove.“Ihopeyouhavenodesignsuponussuchanightasthis.”
Thedetectivemountedthestairs,andourlampgleameduponhisshiningwaterproof.Ihelpedhimoutofit,whileHolmesknockedablazeoutofthelogsinthegrate.
“Now,mydearHopkins,drawupandwarmyourtoes,”saidhe.“Here’sacigar,andthedoctorhasaprescriptioncontaininghotwaterandalemon,whichisgoodmedicineonanightlikethis.Itmustbesomethingimportantwhichhasbroughtyououtinsuchagale.”
“Itisindeed,Mr.Holmes.I’vehadabustlingafternoon,Ipromiseyou.DidyouseeanythingoftheYoxleycaseinthelatesteditions?”
“I’veseennothinglaterthanthefifteenthcenturyto-day.”
“Well,itwasonlyaparagraph,andallwrongatthat,soyouhavenotmissedanything.Ihaven’tletthegrassgrowundermyfeet.It’sdowninKent,sevenmilesfromChathamandthreefromtherailwayline.Iwaswiredforat3:15,reachedYoxleyOldPlaceat5,conductedmyinvestigation,wasbackatCharingCrossbythelasttrain,andstraighttoyoubycab.”
“Whichmeans,Isuppose,thatyouarenotquiteclearaboutyourcase?”
“ItmeansthatIcanmakeneitherheadnortailofit.SofarasIcansee,itisjustastangledabusinessaseverIhandled,andyetatfirstitseemedsosimplethatonecouldn’tgowrong.There’snomotive,Mr.Holmes.
