Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Empty House
Therewastheclatterofrunningfeetuponthepavement,andtwopolicemeninuniform,withoneplain-clothesdetective,rushedthroughthefrontentranceandintotheroom.
“Thatyou,Lestrade?”saidHolmes.
“Yes,Mr.Holmes.Itookthejobmyself.It’sgoodtoseeyoubackinLondon,sir.”
“Ithinkyouwantalittleunofficialhelp.Threeundetectedmurdersinoneyearwon’tdo,Lestrade.ButyouhandledtheMoleseyMysterywithlessthanyourusual—that’stosay,youhandleditfairlywell.”
Wehadallrisentoourfeet,ourprisonerbreathinghard,withastalwartconstableoneachsideofhim.Alreadyafewloiterershadbeguntocollectinthestreet.Holmessteppeduptothewindow,closedit,anddroppedtheblinds.Lestradehadproducedtwocandles,andthepolicemenhaduncoveredtheirlanterns.Iwasableatlasttohaveagoodlookatourprisoner.
Itwasatremendouslyvirileandyetsinisterfacewhichwasturnedtowardsus.Withthebrowofaphilosopheraboveandthejawofasensualistbelow,themanmusthavestartedwithgreatcapacitiesforgoodorforevil.Butonecouldnotlookuponhiscruelblueeyes,withtheirdrooping,cynicallids,oruponthefierce,aggressivenoseandthethreatening,deep-linedbrow,withoutreadingNature’splainestdanger-signals.Hetooknoheedofanyofus,buthiseyeswerefixeduponHolmes’sfacewithanexpressioninwhichhatredandamazementwereequallyblended.“Youfiend!”hekeptonmuttering.“Youclever,cleverfiend!”
“Ah,Colonel!”saidHolmes,arranginghisrumpledcollar.
