Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Abbey Grange
”
“Howcanyoupossiblytell?”
“Byaninspectionofthetrains,andbyreckoningthetime.Thelocalpolicehadtobecalledin,theyhadtocommunicatewithScotlandYard,Hopkinshadtogoout,andheinturnhadtosendforme.Allthatmakesafairnight’swork.Well,hereweareatChiselhurstStation,andweshallsoonsetourdoubtsatrest.”
Adriveofacoupleofmilesthroughnarrowcountrylanesbroughtustoaparkgate,whichwasopenedforusbyanoldlodge-keeper,whosehaggardfaceborethereflectionofsomegreatdisaster.Theavenueranthroughanoblepark,betweenlinesofancientelms,andendedinalow,widespreadhouse,pillaredinfrontafterthefashionofPalladio.Thecentralpartwasevidentlyofagreatageandshroudedinivy,butthelargewindowsshowedthatmodernchangeshadbeencarriedout,andonewingofthehouseappearedtobeentirelynew.Theyouthfulfigureandalert,eagerfaceofInspectorStanleyHopkinsconfrontedusintheopendoorway.
“I’mverygladyouhavecome,Mr.Holmes.Andyou,too,Dr.Watson.But,indeed,ifIhadmytimeoveragain,Ishouldnothavetroubledyou,forsincetheladyhascometoherself,shehasgivensoclearanaccountoftheaffairthatthereisnotmuchleftforustodo.YourememberthatLewishamgangofburglars?”
“What,thethreeRandalls?”
“Exactly;thefatherandtwosons.It’stheirwork.Ihavenotadoubtofit.TheydidajobatSydenhamafortnightagoandwereseenanddescribed.Rathercooltodoanothersosoonandsonear,butitisthey,beyondalldoubt.It’sahangingmatterthistime.
