Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of Black Peter
Half-pasttwohadchimed,anditwasthedarkesthourwhichprecedesthedawn,whenweallstartedasalowbutsharpclickcamefromthedirectionofthegate.Someonehadenteredthedrive.Againtherewasalongsilence,andIhadbeguntofearthatitwasafalsealarm,whenastealthystepwasheardupontheothersideofthehut,andamomentlaterametallicscrapingandclinking.Themanwastryingtoforcethelock.Thistimehisskillwasgreaterorhistoolwasbetter,fortherewasasuddensnapandthecreakofthehinges.Thenamatchwasstruck,andnextinstantthesteadylightfromacandlefilledtheinteriorofthehut.Throughthegauzecurtainoureyeswereallriveteduponthescenewithin.
Thenocturnalvisitorwasayoungman,frailandthin,withablackmoustache,whichintensifiedthedeadlypallorofhisface.Hecouldnothavebeenmuchabovetwentyyearsofage.Ihaveneverseenanyhumanbeingwhoappearedtobeinsuchapitiablefright,forhisteethwerevisiblychattering,andhewasshakingineverylimb.Hewasdressedlikeagentleman,inNorfolkjacketandknickerbockers,withaclothcapuponhishead.Wewatchedhimstaringroundwithfrightenedeyes.Thenhelaidthecandle-enduponthetableanddisappearedfromourviewintooneofthecorners.Hereturnedwithalargebook,oneofthelogbookswhichformedalineupontheshelves.Leaningonthetable,herapidlyturnedovertheleavesofthisvolumeuntilhecametotheentrywhichhesought.Then,withanangrygestureofhisclenchedhand,heclosedthebook,replaceditinthecorner,andputoutthelight.
