Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
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“Itisaprivilegetobeassociatedwithyouinthehandlingofacase,”saidtheinspector,warmly.“Youwillexcuseme,however,ifIspeakfranklytoyou.Youareonlyanswerabletoyourself,butIhavetoanswertomysuperiors.IfthisAbeSlaney,livingatElrige’s,isindeedthemurderer,andifhehasmadehisescapewhileIamseatedhere,Ishouldcertainlygetintoserioustrouble.”
“Youneednotbeuneasy.Hewillnottrytoescape.”
“Howdoyouknow?”
“Toflywouldbeaconfessionofguilt.”
“Thenletusgoarresthim.”
“Iexpecthimhereeveryinstant.”
“Butwhyshouldhecome.”
“BecauseIhavewrittenandaskedhim.”
“Butthisisincredible,Mr.Holmes!Whyshouldhecomebecauseyouhaveaskedhim?Wouldnotsucharequestratherrousehissuspicionsandcausehimtofly?”
“IthinkIhaveknownhowtoframetheletter,”saidSherlockHolmes.“Infact,ifIamnotverymuchmistaken,hereisthegentlemanhimselfcomingupthedrive.”
Amanwasstridingupthepathwhichledtothedoor.Hewasatall,handsome,swarthyfellow,cladinasuitofgreyflannel,withaPanamahat,abristlingblackbeard,andagreat,aggressivehookednose,andflourishingacaneashewalked.Heswaggeredupapathasiftheplacebelongedtohim,andweheardhisloud,confidentpealatthebell.
“Ithink,gentlemen,”saidHolmes,quietly,“thatwehadbesttakeupourpositionbehindthedoor.Everyprecautionisnecessarywhendealingwithsuchafellow.Youwillneedyourhandcuffs,Inspector.Youcanleavethetalkingtome.
