Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Priory School
Acardwaslyingonthehalltable,andthebutlerwhisperedsomethingtohismaster,whoturnedtouswithagitationineveryheavyfeature.
“TheDukeishere,”saidhe.“TheDukeandMr.Wilderareinthestudy.Come,gentlemen,andIwillintroduceyou.”
Iwas,ofcourse,familiarwiththepicturesofthefamousstatesman,butthemanhimselfwasverydifferentfromhisrepresentation.Hewasatallandstatelyperson,scrupulouslydressed,withadrawn,thinface,andanosewhichwasgrotesquelycurvedandlong.Hiscomplexionwasofadeadpallor,whichwasmorestartlingbycontrastwithalong,dwindlingbeardofvividred,whichfloweddownoverhiswhitewaistcoatwithhiswatch-chaingleamingthroughitsfringe.SuchwasthestatelypresencewholookedstonilyatusfromthecentreofDr.Huxtable’shearthrug.Besidehimstoodaveryyoungman,whomIunderstoodtobeWilder,theprivatesecretary.Hewassmall,nervous,alertwithintelligentlight-blueeyesandmobilefeatures.Itwashewhoatonce,inanincisiveandpositivetone,openedtheconversation.
“Icalledthismorning,Dr.Huxtable,toolatetopreventyoufromstartingforLondon.IlearnedthatyourobjectwastoinviteMr.SherlockHolmestoundertaketheconductofthiscase.HisGraceissurprised,Dr.Huxtable,thatyoushouldhavetakensuchastepwithoutconsultinghim.”
“WhenIlearnedthatthepolicehadfailed——”
“HisGraceisbynomeansconvincedthatthepolicehavefailed.”
“Butsurely,Mr.Wilder——”
“Youarewellaware,Dr.
