Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez
Holmesstretchedouthishandatthesamemoment,andbetweenthemtheytippedtheboxovertheedge.Foraminuteortwowewereallonourkneesretrievingstraycigarettesfromimpossibleplaces.Whenweroseagain,IobservedHolmes’seyeswereshiningandhischeekstingedwithcolour.OnlyatacrisishaveIseenthosebattle-signalsflying.
“Yes,”saidhe,“Ihavesolvedit.”
StanleyHopkinsandIstaredinamazement.Somethinglikeasneerquiveredoverthegauntfeaturesoftheoldprofessor.
“Indeed!Inthegarden?”
“No,here.”
“Here!When?”
“Thisinstant.”
“Youaresurelyjoking,Mr.SherlockHolmes.Youcompelmetotellyouthatthisistooseriousamattertobetreatedinsuchafashion.”
“Ihaveforgedandtestedeverylinkofmychain,ProfessorCoram,andIamsurethatitissound.Whatyourmotivesare,orwhatexactpartyouplayinthisstrangebusiness,Iamnotyetabletosay.InafewminutesIshallprobablyhearitfromyourownlips.MeanwhileIwillreconstructwhatispastforyourbenefit,sothatyoumayknowtheinformationwhichIstillrequire.
“Aladyyesterdayenteredyourstudy.Shecamewiththeintentionofpossessingherselfofcertaindocumentswhichwereinyourbureau.Shehadakeyofherown.Ihavehadanopportunityofexaminingyours,andIdonotfindthatslightdiscolourationwhichthescratchmadeuponthevarnishwouldhaveproduced.Youwerenotanaccessory,therefore,andshecame,sofarasIcanreadtheevidence,withoutyourknowledgetorobyou.”
Theprofessorblewacloudfromhislips.
