Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
"Butwhatotheristhere?"criedthebankerwithagestureofdespair. "Ifhismotiveswereinnocent,whydoeshenotexplainthem?"
"Itisourtasktofindthatout,"repliedHolmes; "sonow,ifyouplease,Mr.Holder,wewillsetoffforStreathamtogether,anddevoteanhourtoglancingalittlemorecloselyintodetails."
Myfriendinsisteduponmyaccompanyingthemintheirexpedition,whichIwaseagerenoughtodo,formycuriosityandsympathyweredeeplystirredbythestorytowhichwehadlistened. Iconfessthattheguiltofthebanker’ssonappearedtometobeasobviousasitdidtohisunhappyfather,butstillIhadsuchfaithinHolmes’sjudgmentthatIfeltthattheremustbesomegroundsforhopeaslongashewasdissatisfiedwiththeacceptedexplanation. Hehardlyspokeawordthewholewayouttothesouthernsuburb,butsatwithhischinuponhisbreastandhishatdrawnoverhiseyes,sunkinthedeepestthought. Ourclientappearedtohavetakenfreshheartatthelittleglimpseofhopewhichhadbeenpresentedtohim,andheevenbrokeintoadesultorychatwithmeoverhisbusinessaffairs. AshortrailwayjourneyandashorterwalkbroughtustoFairbank,themodestresidenceofthegreatfinancier.
Fairbankwasagood-sizedsquarehouseofwhitestone,standingbackalittlefromtheroad. Adoublecarriage-sweep,withasnow-cladlawn,stretcheddowninfronttotwolargeirongateswhichclosedtheentrance. Ontherightsidewasasmallwoodenthicket,whichledintoanarrowpathbetweentwoneathedgesstretchingfromtheroadtothekitchendoor,andformingthetradesmen’sentrance. Ontheleftranalanewhichledtothestables,andwasnotitselfwithinthegroundsatall,beingapublic,thoughlittleused,thoroughfare.
