Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Speckled Band
"Andyoumayexpectusearlyintheafternoon. Ihavemyselfsomesmallbusinessmatterstoattendto. Willyounotwaitandbreakfast?"
"No,Imustgo. MyheartislightenedalreadysinceIhaveconfidedmytroubletoyou. Ishalllookforwardtoseeingyouagainthisafternoon." Shedroppedherthickblackveiloverherfaceandglidedfromtheroom.
"Andwhatdoyouthinkofitall,Watson?"askedSherlockHolmes,leaningbackinhischair.
"Itseemstometobeamostdarkandsinisterbusiness."
"Darkenoughandsinisterenough."
"Yetiftheladyiscorrectinsayingthattheflooringandwallsaresound,andthatthedoor,window,andchimneyareimpassable,thenhersistermusthavebeenundoubtedlyalonewhenshemethermysteriousend."
"Whatbecomes,then,ofthesenocturnalwhistles,andwhatoftheverypeculiarwordsofthedyingwoman?"
"Icannotthink."
"Whenyoucombinetheideasofwhistlesatnight,thepresenceofabandofgypsieswhoareonintimatetermswiththisolddoctor,thefactthatwehaveeveryreasontobelievethatthedoctorhasaninterestinpreventinghisstepdaughter’smarriage,thedyingallusiontoaband,and,finally,thefactthatMissHelenStonerheardametallicclang,whichmighthavebeencausedbyoneofthosemetalbarsthatsecuredtheshuttersfallingbackintoitsplace,Ithinkthatthereisgoodgroundtothinkthatthemysterymaybeclearedalongthoselines."
"Butwhat,then,didthegypsiesdo?"
