Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Empty House
Atlast,asmidnightapproachedandthestreetgraduallycleared,hepacedupanddowntheroominuncontrollableagitation.Iwasabouttomakesomeremarktohim,whenIraisedmyeyestothelightedwindow,andagainexperiencedalmostasgreatasurpriseasbefore.IclutchedHolmes’sarm,andpointedupward.
“Theshadowhasmoved!”Icried.
Itwasindeednolongertheprofile,buttheback,whichwasturnedtowardsus.
Threeyearshadcertainlynotsmoothedtheasperitiesofhistemperorhisimpatiencewithalessactiveintelligencethanhisown.
“Ofcourseithasmoved,”saidhe.“AmIsuchafarcicalbungler,Watson,thatIshoulderectanobviousdummy,andexpectthatsomeofthesharpestmeninEuropewouldbedeceivedbyit?Wehavebeeninthisroomtwohours,andMrs.Hudsonhasmadesomechangeinthatfigureeighttimes,oronceineveryquarterofanhour.Sheworksitfromthefront,sothathershadowmayneverbeseen.Ah!”Hedrewinhisbreathwithashrill,excitedintake.InthedimlightIsawhisheadthrownforward,hiswholeattituderigidwithattention.Outsidethestreetwasabsolutelydeserted.Thosetwomenmightstillbecrouchinginthedoorway,butIcouldnolongerseethem.Allwasstillanddark,saveonlythatbrilliantyellowscreeninfrontofuswiththeblackfigureoutlineduponitscentre.AgainintheuttersilenceIheardthatthin,sibilantnotewhichspokeofintensesuppressedexcitement.Aninstantlaterhepulledmebackintotheblackestcorneroftheroom,andIfelthiswarninghanduponmylips.Thefingerswhichclutchedmewerequivering.
