Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Speckled Band
"Ah,yes,ofcourse!Well,acheetahisjustabigcat,andyetasaucerofmilkdoesnotgoveryfarinsatisfyingitswants,Idaresay. ThereisonepointwhichIshouldwishtodetermine." Hesquatteddowninfrontofthewoodenchairandexaminedtheseatofitwiththegreatestattention.
"Thankyou.Thatisquitesettled,"saidhe,risingandputtinghislensinhispocket. "Hello!Hereissomethinginteresting!"
Theobjectwhichhadcaughthiseyewasasmalldoglashhungononecornerofthebed. Thelash,however,wascurleduponitselfandtiedsoastomakealoopofwhipcord.
"Whatdoyoumakeofthat,Watson?"
"It’sacommonenoughlash. ButIdon’tknowwhyifshouldbetied."
"Thatisnotquitesocommon,isit? Ah,me!it’sawickedworld,andwhenaclevermanturnshisbrainstocrimeitistheworstofall. IthinkthatIhaveseenenoughnow,MissStoner,andwithyourpermissionweshallwalkoutuponthelawn."
Ihadneverseenmyfriend’sfacesogrimorhisbrowsodarkasitwaswhenweturnedfromthesceneofthisinvestigation. Wehadwalkedseveraltimesupanddownthelawn,neitherMissStonernormyselflikingtobreakinuponhisthoughtsbeforeherousedhimselffromhisreverie.
"Itisveryessential,MissStoner,"saidhe,"thatyoushouldabsolutelyfollowmyadviceineveryrespect."
"Ishallmostcertainlydoso."
"Thematteristooseriousforanyhesitation. Yourlifemaydependuponyourcompliance."
