Знак четырех
II. The Statement of the Case
Sincetheneveryyearuponthesamedatetherehasalwaysappearedasimilarbox,containingasimilarpearl,withoutanyclueastothesender.Theyhavebeenpronouncedbyanexperttobeofararevarietyandofconsiderablevalue.Youcanseeforyourselvesthattheyareveryhandsome.”Sheopenedaflatboxasshespoke,andshowedmesixofthefinestpearlsthatIhadeverseen.
“Yourstatementismostinteresting,”saidSherlockHolmes.“Hasanythingelseoccurredtoyou?”
“Yes,andnolaterthanto-day.ThatiswhyIhavecometoyou.ThismorningIreceivedthisletter,whichyouwillperhapsreadforyourself.”
“Thankyou,”saidHolmes.“Theenvelopetoo,please.Postmark,London,S.W.Date,July7.Hum!Man’sthumb-markoncorner,—probablypostman.Bestqualitypaper.Envelopesatsixpenceapacket.Particularmaninhisstationery.Noaddress.‘BeatthethirdpillarfromtheleftoutsidetheLyceumTheatreto-nightatseveno’clock.Ifyouaredistrustful,bringtwofriends.Youareawrongedwoman,andshallhavejustice.Donotbringpolice.Ifyoudo,allwillbeinvain.Yourunknownfriend.’Well,really,thisisaveryprettylittlemystery.Whatdoyouintendtodo,MissMorstan?”
“ThatisexactlywhatIwanttoaskyou.”
“Thenweshallmostcertainlygo.YouandIand—yes,why,Dr.Watsonistheveryman.Yourcorrespondentsaystwofriends.HeandIhaveworkedtogetherbefore.”
“Butwouldhecome?”sheasked,withsomethingappealinginhervoiceandexpression.
“Ishouldbeproudandhappy,”saidI,fervently,“ifIcanbeofanyservice.
