Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           No,sir,Ishallapproachthiscasefromthepointofviewthatwhatthisyoungmansaysistrue,andweshallseewhitherthathypothesiswillleadus. AndnowhereismypocketPetrarch,andnotanotherwordshallIsayofthiscaseuntilweareonthesceneofaction. WelunchatSwindon,andIseethatweshallbethereintwentyminutes." 

           Itwasnearlyfouro’clockwhenweatlast,afterpassingthroughthebeautifulStroudValley,andoverthebroadgleamingSevern,foundourselvesattheprettylittlecountry-townofRoss. Alean,ferret-likeman,furtiveandsly-looking,waswaitingforusupontheplatform. Inspiteofthelightbrowndustcoatandleather-leggingswhichheworeindeferencetohisrusticsurroundings,IhadnodifficultyinrecognizingLestrade,ofScotlandYard. WithhimwedrovetotheHerefordArmswherearoomhadalreadybeenengagedforus. 

           "Ihaveorderedacarriage,"saidLestradeaswesatoveracupoftea. "Iknewyourenergeticnature,andthatyouwouldnotbehappyuntilyouhadbeenonthesceneofthecrime." 

           "Itwasveryniceandcomplimentaryofyou,"Holmesanswered. "Itisentirelyaquestionofbarometricpressure." 

           Lestradelookedstartled. "Idonotquitefollow,"hesaid. 

           "Howistheglass? Twenty-nine,Isee.Nowind,andnotacloudinthesky. Ihaveacasefulofcigarettesherewhichneedsmoking,andthesofaisverymuchsuperiortotheusualcountryhotelabomination. IdonotthinkthatitisprobablethatIshallusethecarriageto-night." 

           Lestradelaughedindulgently. "Youhave,nodoubt,alreadyformedyourconclusionsfromthenewspapers,"hesaid.