Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of Black Peter
”
Thedetective’sfacehadgrownlongerandlongerduringHolmes’sspeech.Hishopesandhisambitionswereallcrumblingabouthim.Buthewouldnotabandonhispositionwithoutastruggle.
“Youcan’tdenythatNeliganwaspresentthatnight,Mr.Holmes.Thebookwillprovethat.IfancythatIhaveevidenceenoughtosatisfyajury,evenifyouareabletopickaholeinit.Besides,Mr.Holmes,Ihavelaidmyhanduponmyman.Astothisterriblepersonofyours,whereishe?”
“Iratherfancythatheisonthestair,”saidHolmes,serenely.“Ithink,Watson,thatyouwoulddowelltoputthatrevolverwhereyoucanreachit.”Heroseandlaidawrittenpaperuponaside-table.“Nowweareready,”saidhe.
Therehadbeensometalkingingruffvoicesoutside,andnowMrs.HudsonopenedthedoortosaythattherewerethreemeninquiringforCaptainBasil.
“Showtheminonebyone,”saidHolmes.
“ThefirstwhoenteredwasalittleRibstonpippinofaman,withruddycheeksandfluffywhiteside-whiskers.Holmeshaddrawnaletterfromhispocket.
“Whatname?”heasked.
“JamesLancaster.”
“Iamsorry,Lancaster,buttheberthisfull.Hereishalfasovereignforyourtrouble.Juststepintothisroomandwaitthereforafewminutes.”
Thesecondmanwasalong,dried-upcreature,withlankhairandsallowcheeks.HisnamewasHughPattins.Healsoreceivedhisdismissal,hishalf-sovereign,andtheordertowait.
Thethirdapplicantwasamanofremarkableappearance.
