Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of Black Peter
Hisinitialswereinsideit.Anditwasofsealskin,—andhewasanoldsealer.”
“Buthehadnopipe.”
“No,sir,wecouldfindnopipe.Indeed,hesmokedverylittle,andyethemighthavekeptsometobaccoforhisfriends.”
“Nodoubt.Ionlymentionitbecause,ifIhadbeenhandlingthecase,Ishouldhavebeeninclinedtomakethatthestarting-pointofmyinvestigation.However,myfriend,Dr.Watson,knowsnothingofthismatter,andIshouldbenonetheworseforhearingthesequenceofeventsoncemore.Justgiveussomeshortsketchesoftheessentials.”
StanleyHopkinsdrewaslipofpaperfromhispocket.
“Ihaveafewdatesherewhichwillgiveyouthecareerofthedeadman,CaptainPeterCarey.Hewasbornin’45—fiftyyearsofage.Hewasamostdaringandsuccessfulsealandwhalefisher.In1883hecommandedthesteamsealerSeaUnicorn,ofDundee.Hehadthenhadseveralsuccessfulvoyagesinsuccession,andinthefollowingyear,1884,heretired.Afterthathetravelledforsomeyears,andfinallyheboughtasmallplacecalledWoodman’sLee,nearForestRow,inSussex.Therehehaslivedforsixyears,andtherehediedjustaweekagoto-day.
“Thereweresomemostsingularpointsabouttheman.Inordinarylife,hewasastrictPuritan—asilent,gloomyfellow.Hishouseholdconsistedofhiswife,hisdaughter,agedtwenty,andtwofemaleservants.Theselastwerecontinuallychanging,foritwasneveraverycheerysituation,andsometimesitbecamepastallbearing.Themanwasanintermittentdrunkard,andwhenhehadthefitonhimhewasaperfectfiend.
