Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist
Ifheisanelderlymanheisnotthisactivecyclistwhosprintsawayfromthatyounglady’sathleticpursuit.Whathavewegainedbyyourexpedition?Theknowledgethatthegirl’sstoryistrue.Ineverdoubtedit.ThatthereisaconnectionbetweenthecyclistandtheHall.Ineverdoubtedthateither.ThattheHallistenantedbyWilliamson.Who’sthebetterforthat?Well,well,mydearsir,don’tlooksodepressed.WecandolittlemoreuntilnextSaturday,andinthemeantimeImaymakeoneortwoinquiriesmyself.”
Nextmorning,wehadanotefromMissSmith,recountingshortlyandaccuratelytheveryincidentswhichIhadseen,butthepithoftheletterlayinthepostscript:
“Iamsurethatyouwillrespectmyconfidence,Mr.Holmes,whenItellyouthatmyplaceherehasbecomedifficult,owingtothefactthatmyemployerhasproposedmarriagetome.Iamconvincedthathisfeelingsaremostdeepandmosthonourable.Atthesametime,mypromiseisofcoursegiven.Hetookmyrefusalveryseriously,butalsoverygently.Youcanunderstand,however,thatthesituationisalittlestrained.”
“Ouryoungfriendseemstobegettingintodeepwaters,”saidHolmes,thoughtfully,ashefinishedtheletter.“ThecasecertainlypresentsmorefeaturesofinterestandmorepossibilityofdevelopmentthanIhadoriginallythought.Ishouldbenonetheworseforaquiet,peacefuldayinthecountry,andIaminclinedtorundownthisafternoonandtestoneortwotheorieswhichIhaveformed.
