Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
”
“SoI’veheardGodfreysay.”
“Andyourfriendwascloselyrelated?”
“Yes,hewashisheir,andtheoldboyisnearlyeighty—cramfullofgout,too.Theysayhecouldchalkhisbilliard-cuewithhisknuckles.HeneverallowedGodfreyashillinginhislife,forheisanabsolutemiser,butitwillallcometohimrightenough.”
“HaveyouheardfromLordMount-James?”
“No.”
“WhatmotivecouldyourfriendhaveingoingtoLordMount-James?”
“Well,somethingwasworryinghimthenightbefore,andifitwastodowithmoneyitispossiblethathewouldmakeforhisnearestrelative,whohadsomuchofit,thoughfromallIhaveheardhewouldnothavemuchchanceofgettingit.Godfreywasnotfondoftheoldman.Hewouldnotgoifhecouldhelpit.”
“Well,wecansoondeterminethat.Ifyourfriendwasgoingtohisrelative,LordMount-James,youhavethentoexplainthevisitofthisrough-lookingfellowatsolateanhour,andtheagitationthatwascausedbyhiscoming.”
CyrilOvertonpressedhishandstohishead.“Icanmakenothingofit,”saidhe.
“Well,well,Ihaveaclearday,andIshallbehappytolookintothematter,”saidHolmes.“Ishouldstronglyrecommendyoutomakeyourpreparationsforyourmatchwithoutreferencetothisyounggentleman.Itmust,asyousay,havebeenanoverpoweringnecessitywhichtorehimawayinsuchafashion,andthesamenecessityislikelytoholdhimaway.Letussteproundtogethertothehotel,andseeiftheportercanthrowanyfreshlightuponthematter.
