Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of Black Peter
IfoundthathehadbeenincommandofawhalerwhichwasduetoreturnfromtheArcticseasattheverytimewhenmyfatherwascrossingtoNorway.Theautumnofthatyearwasastormyone,andtherewasalongsuccessionofsoutherlygales.Myfather’syachtmaywellhavebeenblowntothenorth,andtheremetbyCaptainPeterCarey’sship.Ifthatwereso,whathadbecomeofmyfather?Inanycase,ifIcouldprovefromPeterCarey’sevidencehowthesesecuritiescameonthemarketitwouldbeaproofthatmyfatherhadnotsoldthem,andthathehadnoviewtopersonalprofitwhenhetookthem.
“IcamedowntoSussexwiththeintentionofseeingthecaptain,butitwasatthismomentthathisterribledeathoccurred.Ireadattheinquestadescriptionofhiscabin,inwhichitstatedthattheoldlogbooksofhisvesselwerepreservedinit.ItstruckmethatifIcouldseewhatoccurredinthemonthofAugust,1883,onboardtheSeaUnicorn,Imightsettlethemysteryofmyfather’sfate.Itriedlastnighttogetattheselogbooks,butwasunabletoopenthedoor.To-nightItriedagainandsucceeded,butIfindthatthepageswhichdealwiththatmonthhavebeentornfromthebook.ItwasatthatmomentIfoundmyselfaprisonerinyourhands.”
“Isthatall?”askedHopkins.
“Yes,thatisall.”Hiseyesshiftedashesaidit.
“Youhavenothingelsetotellus?”
Hehesitated.
“No,thereisnothing.”
“Youhavenotbeenherebeforelastnight?”
“No.
