Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Five Orange Pips
"Thatwillawaithimwhenheentersport,"saidhe,chuckling. "Itmaygivehimasleeplessnight. HewillfinditassureaprecursorofhisfateasOpenshawdidbeforehim."
"AndwhoisthisCaptainCalhoun?"
"Theleaderofthegang.Ishallhavetheothers,buthefirst."
"Howdidyoutraceit,then?"
Hetookalargesheetofpaperfromhispocket,allcoveredwithdatesandnames.
"Ihavespentthewholeday,"saidhe,"overLloyd’sregistersandfilesoftheoldpapers,followingthefuturecareerofeveryvesselwhichtouchedatPondicherryinJanuaryandFebruaryin’83. Therewerethirty-sixshipsoffairtonnagewhichwerereportedthereduringthosemonths. Ofthese,one,theLoneStar,instantlyattractedmyattention,since,althoughitwasreportedashavingclearedfromLondon,thenameisthatwhichisgiventooneofthestatesoftheUnion."
"Texas,Ithink."
"Iwasnotandamnotsurewhich;butIknewthattheshipmusthaveanAmericanorigin."
"Whatthen?"
"IsearchedtheDundeerecords,andwhenIfoundthatthebarkLoneStarwasthereinJanuary,’85,mysuspicionbecameacertainty. ItheninquiredastothevesselswhichlayatpresentintheportofLondon."
"Yes?"
