Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
SherlockHolmes,IonlyhopethatifeveragainIhaveanimportantcase,Ishallhavethegoodfortunetohaveyoubymyside.”
Westoodatthewindowandwatchedthecabdriveaway.AsIturnedback,myeyecaughtthepelletofpaperwhichtheprisonerhadtosseduponthetable.ItwasthenotewithwhichHolmeshaddecoyedhim.
“Seeifyoucanreadit,Watson,”saidhe,withasmile.
Itcontainednoword,butthislittlelineofdancingmen:
“IfyouusethecodewhichIhaveexplained,”saidHolmes,“youwillfindthatitsimplymeans‘Comehereatonce.’Iwasconvincedthatitwasaninvitationwhichhewouldnotrefuse,sincehecouldneverimaginethatitcouldcomefromanyonebutthelady.Andso,mydearWatson,wehaveendedbyturningthedancingmentogoodwhentheyhavesooftenbeentheagentsofevil,andIthinkthatIhavefulfilledmypromiseofgivingyousomethingunusualforyournotebook.Three-fortyisourtrain,andIfancyweshouldbebackinBakerStreetfordinner.”
Onlyonewordofepilogue.TheAmerican,AbeSlaney,wascondemnedtodeathatthewinterassizesatNorwich,buthispenaltywaschangedtopenalservitudeinconsiderationofmitigatingcircumstances,andthecertaintythatHiltonCubitthadfiredthefirstshot.OfMrs.HiltonCubittIonlyknowthatIhaveheardsherecoveredentirely,andthatshestillremainsawidow,devotingherwholelifetothecareofthepoorandtotheadministrationofherhusband’sestate.
