Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
Atfirsthehadshownsomedispositiontoasserthisownposition,butnowhewasovercomewithadmiration,andreadytofollowwithoutquestionwhereverHolmesled.
“Whomdoyoususpect?”heasked.
“I’llgointothatlater.ThereareseveralpointsinthisproblemwhichIhavenotbeenabletoexplaintoyouyet.NowthatIhavegotsofar,Ihadbestproceedonmyownlines,andthenclearthewholematteruponceandforall.”
“Justasyouwish,Mr.Holmes,solongaswegetourman.”
“Ihavenodesiretomakemysteries,butitisimpossibleatthemomentofactiontoenterintolongandcomplexexplanations.Ihavethethreadsofthisaffairallinmyhand.Evenifthisladyshouldneverrecoverconsciousness,wecanstillreconstructtheeventsoflastnightandinsurethatjusticebedone.Firstofall,Iwishtoknowwhetherthereisanyinninthisneighbourhoodknownas‘Elrige’s’?”
Theservantswerecross-questioned,butnoneofthemhadheardofsuchaplace.Thestable-boythrewalightuponthematterbyrememberingthatafarmerofthatnamelivedsomemilesoff,inthedirectionofEastRuston.
“Isitalonelyfarm?”
“Verylonely,sir.”
“Perhapstheyhavenotheardyetofallthathappenedhereduringthenight?”
“Maybenot,sir.”
Holmesthoughtforalittle,andthenacurioussmileplayedoverhisface.
“Saddleahorse,mylad,”saidhe.“IshallwishyoutotakeanotetoElrige’sFarm.”
Hetookfromhispocketthevariousslipsofthedancingmen.Withtheseinfrontofhim,heworkedforsometimeatthestudy-table.
