Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
AgainIchangedmydress,againIsatinthewindow,andagainIlaughedveryheartilyatthefunnystoriesofwhichmyemployerhadanimmenserepertoire,andwhichhetoldinimitably. Thenhehandedmeayellowbackednovel,andmovingmychairalittlesideways,thatmyownshadowmightnotfalluponthepage,hebeggedmetoreadaloudtohim. Ireadforabouttenminutes,beginningintheheartofachapter,andthensuddenly,inthemiddleofasentence,heorderedmetoceaseandtochangemydress.
"Youcaneasilyimagine,Mr.Holmes,howcuriousIbecameastowhatthemeaningofthisextraordinaryperformancecouldpossiblybe. Theywerealwaysverycareful,Iobserved,toturnmyfaceawayfromthewindow,sothatIbecameconsumedwiththedesiretoseewhatwasgoingonbehindmyback. Atfirstitseemedtobeimpossible,butIsoondevisedameans. Myhand-mirrorhadbeenbroken,soahappythoughtseizedme,andIconcealedapieceoftheglassinmyhandkerchief. Onthenextoccasion,inthemidstofmylaughter,Iputmyhandkerchiefuptomyeyes,andwasablewithalittlemanagementtoseeallthattherewasbehindme. IconfessthatIwasdisappointed. Therewasnothing. Atleastthatwasmyfirstimpression. Atthesecondglance,however,IperceivedthattherewasamanstandingintheSouthamptonRoad,asmallbeardedmaninagraysuit,whoseemedtobelookinginmydirection. Theroadisanimportanthighway,andthereareusuallypeoplethere. Thisman,however,wasleaningagainsttherailingswhichborderedourfieldandwaslookingearnestlyup. IloweredmyhandkerchiefandglancedatMrs.Rucastletofindhereyesfixeduponmewithamostsearchinggaze. Shesaidnothing,butIamconvincedthatshehaddivinedthatIhadamirrorinmyhandandhadseenwhatwasbehindme. Sheroseatonce.
"‘Jephro,’saidshe,‘thereisanimpertinentfellowupontheroadtherewhostaresupatMissHunter.’
