Приключения Шерлока Холмса
A Scandal in Bohemia
Atthreeo’clockpreciselyIwasatBakerStreet,butHolmeshadnotyetreturned. Thelandladyinformedmethathehadleftthehouseshortlyaftereighto’clockinthemorning. Isatdownbesidethefire,however,withtheintentionofawaitinghim,howeverlonghemightbe. Iwasalreadydeeplyinterestedinhisinquiry,for,thoughitwassurroundedbynoneofthegrimandstrangefeatureswhichwereassociatedwiththetwocrimeswhichIhavealreadyrecorded,still,thenatureofthecaseandtheexaltedstationofhisclientgaveitacharacterofitsown. Indeed,apartfromthenatureoftheinvestigationwhichmyfriendhadonhand,therewassomethinginhismasterlygraspofasituation,andhiskeen,incisivereasoning,whichmadeitapleasuretometostudyhissystemofwork,andtofollowthequick,subtlemethodsbywhichhedisentangledthemostinextricablemysteries. SoaccustomedwasItohisinvariablesuccessthattheverypossibilityofhisfailinghadceasedtoenterintomyhead.
Itwascloseuponfourbeforethedooropened,andadrunken-lookinggroom,ill-kemptandsidewhiskered,withaninflamedfaceanddisreputableclothes,walkedintotheroom. AccustomedasIwastomyfriend’samazingpowersintheuseofdisguises,IhadtolookthreetimesbeforeIwascertainthatitwasindeedhe. Withanodhevanishedintothebedroom,whenceheemergedinfiveminutestweed-suitedandrespectable,asofold. Puttinghishandsintohispockets,hestretchedouthislegsinfrontofthefireandlaughedheartilyforsomeminutes.
"Well,really!"hecried,andthenhechokedandlaughedagainuntilhewasobligedtolieback,limpandhelpless,inthechair.
"Whatisit?"
