Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
Iamnearlymad.Mr.Holmes,IamtheunhappyJohnHectorMcFarlane.”
Hemadetheannouncementasifthenamealonewouldexplainbothhisvisitanditsmanner,butIcouldsee,bymycompanion’sunresponsiveface,thatitmeantnomoretohimthantome.
“Haveacigarette,Mr.McFarlane,”saidhe,pushinghiscaseacross.“Iamsurethat,withyoursymptoms,myfriendDr.Watsonherewouldprescribeasedative.Theweatherhasbeensoverywarmtheselastfewdays.Now,ifyoufeelalittlemorecomposed,Ishouldbegladifyouwouldsitdowninthatchair,andtellusveryslowlyandquietlywhoyouare,andwhatitisthatyouwant.Youmentionedyourname,asifIshouldrecognizeit,butIassureyouthat,beyondtheobviousfactsthatyouareabachelor,asolicitor,aFreemason,andanasthmatic,Iknownothingwhateveraboutyou.”
FamiliarasIwaswithmyfriend’smethods,itwasnotdifficultformetofollowhisdeductions,andtoobservetheuntidinessofattire,thesheafoflegalpapers,thewatch-charm,andthebreathingwhichhadpromptedthem.Ourclient,however,staredinamazement.
“Yes,Iamallthat,Mr.Holmes;and,inaddition,IamthemostunfortunatemanatthismomentinLondon.Forheaven’ssake,don’tabandonme,Mr.Holmes!IftheycometoarrestmebeforeIhavefinishedmystory,makethemgivemetime,sothatImaytellyouthewholetruth.IcouldgotojailhappyifIknewthatyouwereworkingformeoutside.”
“Arrestyou!”saidHolmes.“Thisisreallymostgrati—mostinteresting.
