Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor
"Justonehinttoyou,Lestrade,"drawledHolmesbeforehisrivalvanished; "Iwilltellyouthetruesolutionofthematter. LadySt.Simonisamyth. Thereisnot,andthereneverhasbeen,anysuchperson."
Lestradelookedsadlyatmycompanion. Thenheturnedtome,tappedhisforeheadthreetimes,shookhisheadsolemnly,andhurriedaway.
HehadhardlyshutthedoorbehindhimwhenHolmesrosetoputonhisovercoat. "Thereissomethinginwhatthefellowsaysaboutoutdoorwork,"heremarked, "soIthink,Watson,thatImustleaveyoutoyourpapersforalittle."
Itwasafterfiveo’clockwhenSherlockHolmesleftme,butIhadnotimetobelonely,forwithinanhourtherearrivedaconfectioner’smanwithaverylargeflatbox. Thisheunpackedwiththehelpofayouthwhomhehadbroughtwithhim,andpresently,tomyverygreatastonishment,aquiteepicureanlittlecoldsupperbegantobelaidoutuponourhumblelodging-housemahogany. Therewereacoupleofbraceofcoldwoodcock,apheasant,apatedefoiegraspiewithagroupofancientandcobwebbybottles. Havinglaidoutalltheseluxuries,mytwovisitorsvanishedaway,likethegeniioftheArabianNights,withnoexplanationsavethatthethingshadbeenpaidforandwereorderedtothisaddress.
Justbeforenineo’clockSherlockHolmessteppedbrisklyintotheroom. Hisfeaturesweregravelyset,buttherewasalightinhiseyewhichmademethinkthathehadnotbeendisappointedinhisconclusions.
"Theyhavelaidthesupper,then,"hesaid,rubbinghishands.
"Youseemtoexpectcompany.Theyhavelaidforfive."
