Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Crooked Man
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"Thatwouldgivemetime."
"Then,ifyouarenottoosleepy,Iwillgiveyouasketchofwhathashappened,andofwhatremainstobedone."
"Iwassleepybeforeyoucame.Iamquitewakefulnow."
"Iwillcompressthestoryasfarasmaybedonewithoutomittinganythingvitaltothecase.Itisconceivablethatyoumayevenhavereadsomeaccountofthematter.ItisthesupposedmurderofColonelBarclay,oftheRoyalMunsters,atAldershot,whichIaminvestigating."
"Ihaveheardnothingofit."
"Ithasnotexcitedmuchattentionyet,exceptlocally.Thefactsareonlytwodaysold.Brieflytheyarethese:
"TheRoyalMunstersis,asyouknow,oneofthemostfamousIrishregimentsintheBritishArmy.ItdidwondersbothintheCrimeaandtheMutiny,andhassincethattimedistinguisheditselfuponeverypossibleoccasion.ItwascommandeduptoMondaynightbyJamesBarclay,agallantveteran,whostartedasafullprivate,wasraisedtocommissionedrankforhisbraveryatthetimeoftheMutiny,andsolivedtocommandtheregimentinwhichhehadoncecarriedamusket.
"ColonelBarclayhadmarriedatthetimewhenhewasasergeant,andhiswife,whosemaidennamewasMissNancyDevoy,wasthedaughterofaformercolour-sergeantinthesamecorps.Therewas,therefore,ascanbeimagined,somelittlesocialfrictionwhentheyoungcouple(fortheywerestillyoung)foundthemselvesintheirnewsurroundings.
