Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist
YoumustknowthateverySaturdayforenoonIrideonmybicycletoFarnhamStation,inordertogetthe12:22totown.TheroadfromChilternGrangeisalonelyone,andatonespotitisparticularlyso,foritliesforoveramilebetweenCharlingtonHeathupononesideandthewoodswhichlieroundCharlingtonHallupontheother.Youcouldnotfindamorelonelytractofroadanywhere,anditisquiteraretomeetsomuchasacart,orapeasant,untilyoureachthehighroadnearCrooksburyHill.TwoweeksagoIwaspassingthisplace,whenIchancedtolookbackovermyshoulder,andabouttwohundredyardsbehindmeIsawaman,alsoonabicycle.Heseemedtobeamiddle-agedman,withashort,darkbeard.IlookedbackbeforeIreachedFarnham,butthemanwasgone,soIthoughtnomoreaboutit.ButyoucanimaginehowsurprisedIwas,Mr.Holmes,when,onmyreturnontheMonday,Isawthesamemanonthesamestretchofroad.Myastonishmentwasincreasedwhentheincidentoccurredagain,exactlyasbefore,onthefollowingSaturdayandMonday.Healwayskepthisdistanceanddidnotmolestmeinanyway,butstillitcertainlywasveryodd.ImentionedittoMr.Carruthers,whoseemedinterestedinwhatIsaid,andtoldmethathehadorderedahorseandtrap,sothatinfutureIshouldnotpassovertheselonelyroadswithoutsomecompanion.
“Thehorseandtrapweretohavecomethisweek,butforsomereasontheywerenotdelivered,andagainIhadtocycletothestation.Thatwasthismorning.
