Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Priory School
Hisbicyclewaskeptinasmallshedbesidethislawn,anditalsowasgone.
“Hehadbeenwithmefortwoyears,andcamewiththebestreferences,buthewasasilent,moroseman,notverypopulareitherwithmastersorboys.Notracecouldbefoundofthefugitives,andnow,onThursdaymorning,weareasignorantaswewereonTuesday.Inquirywas,ofcourse,madeatonceatHoldernesseHall.Itisonlyafewmilesaway,andweimaginedthat,insomesuddenattackofhomesickness,hehadgonebacktohisfather,butnothinghadbeenheardofhim.TheDukeisgreatlyagitated,and,astome,youhaveseenyourselvesthestateofnervousprostrationtowhichthesuspenseandtheresponsibilityhavereducedme.Mr.Holmes,ifeveryouputforwardyourfullpowers,Iimploreyoutodosonow,forneverinyourlifecouldyouhaveacasewhichismoreworthyofthem.”
SherlockHolmeshadlistenedwiththeutmostintentnesstothestatementoftheunhappyschoolmaster.Hisdrawnbrowsandthedeepfurrowbetweenthemshowedthatheneedednoexhortationtoconcentrateallhisattentionuponaproblemwhich,apartfromthetremendousinterestsinvolvedmustappealsodirectlytohisloveofthecomplexandtheunusual.Henowdrewouthisnotebookandjotteddownoneortwomemoranda.
“Youhavebeenveryremissinnotcomingtomesooner,”saidhe,severely.“Youstartmeonmyinvestigationwithaveryserioushandicap.Itisinconceivable,forexample,thatthisivyandthislawnwouldhaveyieldednothingtoanexpertobserver.”
“Iamnottoblame,Mr.Holmes.
