Повернення Шерлока Холмса

           ButIcaredagreatdealforthemuchmoreformidablepersonwhowasbehindhim,thebosomfriendofMoriarty,themanwhodroppedtherocksoverthecliff,themostcunninganddangerouscriminalinLondon.Thatisthemanwhoisaftermeto-nightWatson,andthatisthemanwhoisquiteunawarethatweareafterhim.”

           Myfriend’splansweregraduallyrevealingthemselves.Fromthisconvenientretreat,thewatcherswerebeingwatchedandthetrackerstracked.Thatangularshadowupyonderwasthebait,andwewerethehunters.Insilencewestoodtogetherinthedarknessandwatchedthehurryingfigureswhopassedandrepassedinfrontofus.Holmeswassilentandmotionless;butIcouldtellthathewaskeenlyalert,andthathiseyeswerefixedintentlyuponthestreamofpassers-by.Itwasableakandboisterousnightandthewindwhistledshrillydownthelongstreet.Manypeopleweremovingtoandfro,mostofthemmuffledintheircoatsandcravats.OnceortwiceitseemedtomethatIhadseenthesamefigurebefore,andIespeciallynoticedtwomenwhoappearedtobeshelteringthemselvesfromthewindinthedoorwayofahousesomedistanceupthestreet.Itriedtodrawmycompanion’sattentiontothem;buthegavealittleejaculationofimpatience,andcontinuedtostareintothestreet.Morethanoncehefidgetedwithhisfeetandtappedrapidlywithhisfingersuponthewall.Itwasevidenttomethathewasbecominguneasy,andthathisplanswerenotworkingoutaltogetherashehadhoped.