Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
Herroomwasattheotherendofthehouse,andshecouldhearnothingofwhathadpassed.Mr.McFarlanehadlefthishat,andtothebestofherbeliefhisstick,inthehall.Shehadbeenawakenedbythealarmoffire.Herpoor,dearmasterhadcertainlybeenmurdered.Hadheanyenemies?Well,everymanhadenemies,butMr.Oldacrekepthimselfverymuchtohimself,andonlymetpeopleinthewayofbusiness.Shehadseenthebuttons,andwassurethattheybelongedtotheclotheswhichhehadwornlastnight.Thewood-pilewasverydry,forithadnotrainedforamonth.Itburnedliketinder,andbythetimeshereachedthespot,nothingcouldbeseenbutflames.Sheandallthefiremensmelledtheburnedfleshfrominsideit.Sheknewnothingofthepapers,norofMr.Oldacre’sprivateaffairs.
“So,mydearWatson,there’smyreportofafailure.Andyet—andyet—”heclenchedhisthinhandsinaparoxysmofconviction—“Iknowit’sallwrong.Ifeelitinmybones.Thereissomethingthathasnotcomeout,andthathousekeeperknowsit.Therewasasortofsulkydefianceinhereyes,whichonlygoeswithguiltyknowledge.However,there’snogoodtalkinganymoreaboutit,Watson;butunlesssomeluckychancecomesourwayIfearthattheNorwoodDisappearanceCasewillnotfigureinthatchronicleofoursuccesseswhichIforeseethatapatientpublicwillsoonerorlaterhavetoendure.”
“Surely,”saidI,“theman’sappearancewouldgofarwithanyjury?”
“ThatisadangerousargumentmydearWatson.
