Приключения Шерлока Холмса
A Case of Identity
"Whydidyoucomeawaytoconsultmeinsuchahurry?"askedSherlockHolmes,withhisfinger-tipstogetherandhiseyestotheceiling.
AgainastartledlookcameoverthesomewhatvacuousfaceofMissMarySutherland. "Yes,Ididbangoutofthehouse,"shesaid,"foritmademeangrytoseetheeasywayinwhichMr.Windibank—thatis,myfather—tookitall. Hewouldnotgotothepolice,andhewouldnotgotoyou,andsoatlast,ashewoulddonothingandkeptonsayingthattherewasnoharmdone,itmadememad,andIjustonwithmythingsandcamerightawaytoyou."
"Yourfather,"saidHolmes,"yourstepfather,surely,sincethenameisdifferent."
"Yes,mystepfather.Icallhimfather,thoughitsoundsfunny,too,forheisonlyfiveyearsandtwomonthsolderthanmyself."
"Andyourmotherisalive?"
"Oh,yes,motherisaliveandwell. Iwasn’tbestpleased,Mr.Holmes,whenshemarriedagainsosoonafterfather’sdeath,andamanwhowasnearlyfifteenyearsyoungerthanherself. FatherwasaplumberintheTottenhamCourtRoad,andheleftatidybusinessbehindhim,whichmothercarriedonwithMr.Hardy,theforeman; butwhenMr.Windibankcamehemadehersellthebusiness,forhewasverysuperior,beingatravellerinwines. Theygot4700poundsforthegoodwillandinterest,whichwasn’tnearasmuchasfathercouldhavegotifhehadbeenalive."
IhadexpectedtoseeSherlockHolmesimpatientunderthisramblingandinconsequentialnarrative,but,onthecontraryhehadlistenedwiththegreatestconcentrationofattention.
