Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Musgrave Ritual
’
"‘Iamdelightedtohearit,foryouradviceatpresentwouldbeexceedinglyvaluabletome.WehavehadsomeverystrangedoingsatHurlstone,andthepolicehavebeenabletothrownolightuponthematter.Itisreallythemostextraordinaryandinexplicablebusiness.’
"YoucanimaginewithwhateagernessIlistenedtohim,Watson,fortheverychanceforwhichIhadbeenpantingduringallthosemonthsofinactionseemedtohavecomewithinmyreach.InmyinmostheartIbelievedthatIcouldsucceedwhereothersfailed,andnowIhadtheopportunitytotestmyself.
"‘Prayletmehavethedetails,"Icried.
"ReginaldMusgravesatdownoppositetomeandlitthecigarettewhichIhadpushedtowardshim.
"‘Youmustknow,"saidhe,‘thatthoughIamabachelor,IhavetokeepupaconsiderablestaffofservantsatHurlstone,foritisaramblingoldplaceandtakesagooddealoflookingafter.Ipreserve,too,andinthepheasantmonthsIusuallyhaveahouse-party,sothatitwouldnotdotobeshort-handed.Altogetherthereareeightmaids,thecook,thebutler,twofootmen,andaboy.Thegardenandthestablesofcoursehaveaseparatestaff.
"‘OftheseservantstheonewhohadbeenlongestinourservicewasBrunton,thebutler.Hewasayoungschoolmasteroutofplacewhenhewasfirsttakenupbymyfather,buthewasamanofgreatenergyandcharacter,andhesoonbecamequiteinvaluableinthehousehold.
