Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           Don’tyouseethattheconverseisequallyvalid. Ihavefrequentlygainedmyfirstrealinsightintothecharacterofparentsbystudyingtheirchildren. Thischild’sdispositionisabnormallycruel,merelyforcruelty’ssake,andwhetherhederivesthisfromhissmilingfather,asIshouldsuspect,orfromhismother,itbodesevilforthepoorgirlwhoisintheirpower." 

           "Iamsurethatyouareright,Mr.Holmes,"criedourclient. "Athousandthingscomebacktomewhichmakemecertainthatyouhavehitit. Oh,letuslosenotaninstantinbringinghelptothispoorcreature." 

           "Wemustbecircumspect,forwearedealingwithaverycunningman. Wecandonothinguntilseveno’clock. Atthathourweshallbewithyou,anditwillnotbelongbeforewesolvethemystery." 

           Wewereasgoodasourword,foritwasjustsevenwhenwereachedtheCopperBeeches,havingputupourtrapatawaysidepublic-house. Thegroupoftrees,withtheirdarkleavesshininglikeburnishedmetalinthelightofthesettingsun,weresufficienttomarkthehouseevenhadMissHunternotbeenstandingsmilingonthedoor-step. 

           "Haveyoumanagedit?"askedHolmes. 

           Aloudthuddingnoisecamefromsomewheredownstairs. "ThatisMrs.Tollerinthecellar,"saidshe. "Herhusbandliessnoringonthekitchenrug. Herearehiskeys,whicharetheduplicatesofMr.Rucastle’s." 

           "Youhavedonewellindeed!"criedHolmeswithenthusiasm. "Nowleadtheway,andweshallsoonseetheendofthisblackbusiness." 

           Wepassedupthestair,unlockedthedoor,followedondownapassage,andfoundourselvesinfrontofthebarricadewhichMissHunterhaddescribed. Holmescutthecordandremovedthetransversebar.