Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Abbey Grange
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ThehouseholdattheAbbeyGrangeweremuchsurprisedatourreturn,butSherlockHolmes,findingthatStanleyHopkinshadgoneofftoreporttoheadquarters,tookpossessionofthedining-room,lockedthedoorupontheinside,anddevotedhimselffortwohourstooneofthoseminuteandlaboriousinvestigationswhichformthesolidbasisonwhichhisbrilliantedificesofdeductionwerereared.Seatedinacornerlikeaninterestedstudentwhoobservesthedemonstrationofhisprofessor,Ifollowedeverystepofthatremarkableresearch.Thewindow,thecurtains,thecarpet,thechair,therope—eachinturnwasminutelyexaminedanddulypondered.Thebodyoftheunfortunatebaronethadbeenremoved,andallelseremainedaswehadseenitinthemorning.Finally,tomyastonishment,Holmesclimbedupontothemassivemantelpiece.Farabovehisheadhungthefewinchesofredcordwhichwerestillattachedtothewire.Foralongtimehegazedupwardatit,andtheninanattempttogetnearertoitherestedhiskneeuponawoodenbracketonthewall.Thisbroughthishandwithinafewinchesofthebrokenendoftherope,butitwasnotthissomuchasthebracketitselfwhichseemedtoengagehisattention.Finally,hesprangdownwithanejaculationofsatisfaction.
“It’sallright,Watson,”saidhe.“Wehavegotourcase—oneofthemostremarkableinourcollection.But,dearme,howslow-wittedIhavebeen,andhownearlyIhavecommittedtheblunderofmylifetime!Now,Ithinkthat,withafewmissinglinks,mychainisalmostcomplete.”
“Youhavegotyourmen?”
“Man,Watson,man.
