Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of Black Peter
Afiercebull-dogfacewasframedinatangleofhairandbeard,andtwobold,darkeyesgleamedbehindthecoverofthick,tufted,overhungeyebrows.Hesalutedandstoodsailor-fashion,turninghiscaproundinhishands.
“Yourname?”askedHolmes.
“PatrickCairns.”
“Harpooner?”
“Yes,sir.Twenty-sixvoyages.”
“Dundee,Isuppose?”
“Yes,sir.”
“Andreadytostartwithanexploringship?”
“Yes,sir.”
“Whatwages?”
“Eightpoundsamonth.”
“Couldyoustartatonce?”
“AssoonasIgetmykit.”
“Haveyouyourpapers?”
“Yes,sir.”Hetookasheafofwornandgreasyformsfromhispocket.Holmesglancedoverthemandreturnedthem.
“YouarejustthemanIwant,”saidhe.“Here’stheagreementontheside-table.Ifyousignitthewholematterwillbesettled.”
Theseamanlurchedacrosstheroomandtookupthepen.
“ShallIsignhere?”heasked,stoopingoverthetable.
Holmesleanedoverhisshoulderandpassedbothhandsoverhisneck.
“Thiswilldo,”saidhe.
Iheardaclickofsteelandabellowlikeanenragedbull.ThenextinstantHolmesandtheseamanwererollingonthegroundtogether.Hewasamanofsuchgiganticstrengththat,evenwiththehandcuffswhichHolmeshadsodeftlyfasteneduponhiswrists,hewouldhaveveryquicklyoverpoweredmyfriendhadHopkinsandInotrushedtohisrescue.OnlywhenIpressedthecoldmuzzleoftherevolvertohistempledidheatlastunderstandthatresistancewasvain.Welashedhisankleswithcord,androsebreathlessfromthestruggle.
“Imustreallyapologize,Hopkins,”saidSherlockHolmes.
