Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
Theporterwassoscaredthathewasgoingtofetchme,butGodfreystoppedhim,hadadrinkofwater,andpulledhimselftogether.Thenhewentdownstairs,saidafewwordstothemanwhowaswaitinginthehall,andthetwoofthemwentofftogether.Thelastthattheportersawofthem,theywerealmostrunningdownthestreetinthedirectionoftheStrand.ThismorningGodfrey’sroomwasempty,hisbedhadneverbeensleptin,andhisthingswerealljustasIhadseenthemthenightbefore.Hehadgoneoffatamoment’snoticewiththisstranger,andnowordhascomefromhimsince.Idon’tbelievehewillevercomeback.Hewasasportsman,wasGodfrey,downtohismarrow,andhewouldn’thavestoppedhistrainingandletinhisskipperifitwerenotforsomecausethatwastoostrongforhim.No:Ifeelasifheweregoneforgood,andweshouldneverseehimagain.”
SherlockHolmeslistenedwiththedeepestattentiontothissingularnarrative.
“Whatdidyoudo?”heasked.
“IwiredtoCambridgetolearnifanythinghadbeenheardofhimthere.Ihavehadananswer.Noonehasseenhim.”
“CouldhehavegotbacktoCambridge?”
“Yes,thereisalatetrain—quarter-pasteleven.”
“But,sofarasyoucanascertain,hedidnottakeit?”
“No,hehasnotbeenseen.”
“Whatdidyoudonext?”
“IwiredtoLordMount-James.”
“WhytoLordMount-James?”
“Godfreyisanorphan,andLordMount-Jamesishisnearestrelative—hisuncle,Ibelieve.”
“Indeed.Thisthrowsnewlightuponthematter.LordMount-JamesisoneoftherichestmeninEngland.
