Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           Wecalledatthedoor,whenthemaid,atHolmes’srequest,showedusthebootswhichhermasterworeatthetimeofhisdeath,andalsoapairoftheson’s,thoughnotthepairwhichhehadthenhad. Havingmeasuredtheseverycarefullyfromsevenoreightdifferentpoints,Holmesdesiredtobeledtothecourt-yard,fromwhichweallfollowedthewindingtrackwhichledtoBoscombePool. 

           SherlockHolmeswastransformedwhenhewashotuponsuchascentasthis. MenwhohadonlyknownthequietthinkerandlogicianofBakerStreetwouldhavefailedtorecognizehim. Hisfaceflushedanddarkened. Hisbrowsweredrawnintotwohardblacklines,whilehiseyesshoneoutfrombeneaththemwithasteelyglitter. Hisfacewasbentdownward,hisshouldersbowed,hislipscompressed,andtheveinsstoodoutlikewhipcordinhislong,sinewyneck. Hisnostrilsseemedtodilatewithapurelyanimallustforthechase,andhismindwassoabsolutelyconcentrateduponthematterbeforehimthataquestionorremarkfellunheededuponhisears,or,atthemost,onlyprovokedaquick,impatientsnarlinreply. Swiftlyandsilentlyhemadehiswayalongthetrackwhichranthroughthemeadows,andsobywayofthewoodstotheBoscombePool. Itwasdamp,marshyground,asisallthatdistrict,andthereweremarksofmanyfeet,bothuponthepathandamidtheshortgrasswhichboundeditoneitherside. SometimesHolmeswouldhurryon,sometimesstopdead,andoncehemadequitealittledetourintothemeadow. LestradeandIwalkedbehindhim,thedetectiveindifferentandcontemptuous,whileIwatchedmyfriendwiththeinterestwhichsprangfromtheconvictionthateveryoneofhisactionswasdirectedtowardsadefiniteend. 

           TheBoscombePool,whichisalittlereed-girtsheetofwatersomefiftyyardsacross,issituatedattheboundarybetweentheHatherleyFarmandtheprivateparkofthewealthyMr.Turner.