Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist
Besides,withthiscrowdabout,itwaswellthatsheshouldhavesomeoneneartolookafterher.Then,whenthecablecame,Iknewtheywereboundtomakeamove.”
“Whatcable?”
Carrutherstookatelegramfromhispocket.
“That’sit,”saidhe.
Itwasshortandconcise:
Theoldmanisdead.
“Hum!”saidHolmes.“IthinkIseehowthingsworked,andIcanunderstandhowthismessagewould,asyousay,bringthemtoahead.Butwhileyouwait,youmighttellmewhatyoucan.”
Theoldreprobatewiththesurpliceburstintoavolleyofbadlanguage.
“Byheaven!”saidhe,“ifyousquealonus,BobCarruthers,I’llserveyouasyouservedJackWoodley.Youcanbleataboutthegirltoyourheart’scontent,forthat’syourownaffair,butifyouroundonyourpalstothisplain-clothescopper,itwillbetheworstday’sworkthateveryoudid.”
“Yourreverenceneednotbeexcited,”saidHolmes,lightingacigarette.“Thecaseisclearenoughagainstyou,andallIaskisafewdetailsformyprivatecuriosity.However,ifthere’sanydifficultyinyourtellingme,I’lldothetalking,andthenyouwillseehowfaryouhaveachanceofholdingbackyoursecrets.Inthefirstplace,threeofyoucamefromSouthAfricaonthisgame—youWilliamson,youCarruthers,andWoodley.”
“Lienumberone,”saidtheoldman;“Ineversaweitherofthemuntiltwomonthsago,andIhaveneverbeeninAfricainmylife,soyoucanputthatinyourpipeandsmokeit,Mr.BusybodyHolmes!”
“Whathesaysistrue,”saidCarruthers.
“Well,well,twoofyoucameover.
