Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
Butitisevidenttomethatthelogicalwaytoapproachthecaseistobeginbytryingtothrowsomelightuponthefirstincident—thecuriouswill,sosuddenlymade,andtosounexpectedanheir.Itmaydosomethingtosimplifywhatfollowed.No,mydearfellow,Idon’tthinkyoucanhelpme.Thereisnoprospectofdanger,orIshouldnotdreamofstirringoutwithoutyou.ItrustthatwhenIseeyouintheevening,IwillbeabletoreportthatIhavebeenabletodosomethingforthisunfortunateyoungster,whohasthrownhimselfuponmyprotection.”
Itwaslatewhenmyfriendreturned,andIcouldsee,byaglanceathishaggardandanxiousface,thatthehighhopeswithwhichhehadstartedhadnotbeenfulfilled.Foranhourhedronedawayuponhisviolin,endeavouringtosoothehisownruffledspirits.Atlastheflungdowntheinstrument,andplungedintoadetailedaccountofhismisadventures.
“It’sallgoingwrong,Watson—allaswrongasitcango.IkeptaboldfacebeforeLestrade,but,uponmysoul,Ibelievethatforoncethefellowisontherighttrackandweareonthewrong.Allmyinstinctsareoneway,andallthefactsaretheother,andImuchfearthatBritishjurieshavenotyetattainedthatpitchofintelligencewhentheywillgivethepreferencetomytheoriesoverLestrade’sfacts.”
“DidyougotoBlackheath?”
“Yes,Watson,Iwentthere,andIfoundveryquicklythatthelatelamentedOldacrewasaprettyconsiderableblackguard.Thefatherwasawayinsearchofhisson.Themotherwasathome—alittle,fluffy,blue-eyedperson,inatremoroffearandindignation.
