Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
"Seehere,sir! Seewhatmywifefoundinitscrop!" Heheldouthishandanddisplayeduponthecentreofthepalmabrilliantlyscintillatingbluestone,rathersmallerthanabeaninsize,butofsuchpurityandradiancethatittwinkledlikeanelectricpointinthedarkhollowofhishand.
SherlockHolmessatupwithawhistle. "ByJove,Peterson!"saidhe,"thisistreasuretroveindeed. Isupposeyouknowwhatyouhavegot?"
"Adiamond,sir? Apreciousstone. Itcutsintoglassasthoughitwereputty."
"It’smorethanapreciousstone.Itisthepreciousstone."
"NottheCountessofMorcar’sbluecarbuncle!"Iejaculated.
"Preciselyso. Ioughttoknowitssizeandshape,seeingthatIhavereadtheadvertisementaboutitinTheTimeseverydaylately. Itisabsolutelyunique,anditsvaluecanonlybeconjectured,buttherewardofferedof1000poundsiscertainlynotwithinatwentiethpartofthemarketprice."
"Athousandpounds! GreatLordofmercy!" Thecommissionaireplumpeddownintoachairandstaredfromonetotheotherofus.
"Thatisthereward,andIhavereasontoknowthattherearesentimentalconsiderationsinthebackgroundwhichwouldinducetheCountesstopartwithhalfherfortuneifshecouldbutrecoverthegem."
"Itwaslost,ifIrememberaright,attheHotelCosmopolitan,"Iremarked.
"Preciselyso,onDecember22d,justfivedaysago. JohnHorner,aplumber,wasaccusedofhavingabstracteditfromthelady’sjewel-case. TheevidenceagainsthimwassostrongthatthecasehasbeenreferredtotheAssizes. Ihavesomeaccountofthematterhere,Ibelieve."
