Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           "Hewasinthehouseabouthalfanhour,andIcouldcatchglimpsesofhiminthewindowsofthesitting-room,pacingupanddown,talkingexcitedly,andwavinghisarms. OfherIcouldseenothing. Presentlyheemerged,lookingevenmoreflurriedthanbefore. Ashesteppeduptothecab,hepulledagoldwatchfromhispocketandlookedatitearnestly, ‘Drivelikethedevil,’heshouted,‘firsttoGross&Hankey’sinRegentStreet,andthentotheChurchofSt.MonicaintheEdgewareRoad. Halfaguineaifyoudoitintwentyminutes!’ 

           "Awaytheywent,andIwasjustwonderingwhetherIshouldnotdowelltofollowthemwhenupthelanecameaneatlittlelandau,thecoachmanwithhiscoatonlyhalf-buttoned,andhistieunderhisear,whileallthetagsofhisharnesswerestickingoutofthebuckles. Ithadn’tpulledupbeforesheshotoutofthehalldoorandintoit. Ionlycaughtaglimpseofheratthemoment,butshewasalovelywoman,withafacethatamanmightdiefor. 

           "‘TheChurchofSt.Monica,John,’shecried,‘andhalfasovereignifyoureachitintwentyminutes.’ 

           "Thiswasquitetoogoodtolose,Watson. IwasjustbalancingwhetherIshouldrunforit,orwhetherIshouldperchbehindherlandauwhenacabcamethroughthestreet. Thedriverlookedtwiceatsuchashabbyfare,butIjumpedinbeforehecouldobject. ‘TheChurchofSt.Monica,’saidI,‘andhalfasovereignifyoureachitintwentyminutes.’ Itwastwenty-fiveminutestotwelve,andofcourseitwasclearenoughwhatwasinthewind. 

           "Mycabbydrovefast. Idon’tthinkIeverdrovefaster,buttheothersweretherebeforeus.ThecabandthelandauwiththeirsteaminghorseswereinfrontofthedoorwhenIarrived. Ipaidthemanandhurriedintothechurch.