Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Speckled Band
Thebuildingwasofgray,lichen-blotchedstone,withahighcentralportionandtwocurvingwings,liketheclawsofacrab,thrownoutoneachside. Inoneofthesewingsthewindowswerebrokenandblockedwithwoodenboards,whiletheroofwaspartlycavedin,apictureofruin. Thecentralportionwasinlittlebetterrepair,buttheright-handblockwascomparativelymodern,andtheblindsinthewindows,withthebluesmokecurlingupfromthechimneys,showedthatthiswaswherethefamilyresided. Somescaffoldinghadbeenerectedagainsttheendwall,andthestone-workhadbeenbrokeninto,buttherewerenosignsofanyworkmenatthemomentofourvisit. Holmeswalkedslowlyupanddowntheill-trimmedlawnandexaminedwithdeepattentiontheoutsidesofthewindows.
"This,Itakeit,belongstotheroominwhichyouusedtosleep,thecentreonetoyoursister’s,andtheonenexttothemainbuildingtoDr.Roylott’schamber?"
"Exactlyso.ButIamnowsleepinginthemiddleone."
"Pendingthealterations,asIunderstand. Bytheway,theredoesnotseemtobeanyverypressingneedforrepairsatthatendwall."
"Therewerenone. Ibelievethatitwasanexcusetomovemefrommyroom."
"Ah!thatissuggestive. Now,ontheothersideofthisnarrowwingrunsthecorridorfromwhichthesethreeroomsopen. Therearewindowsinit,ofcourse?"
"Yes,butverysmallones. Toonarrowforanyonetopassthrough."
"Asyoubothlockedyourdoorsatnight,yourroomswereunapproachablefromthatside. Now,wouldyouhavethekindnesstogointoyourroomandbaryourshutters?"
