Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
“It’sanextraordinarything,”saidhe,“thatallmylifeIhavebeencollectingotherpeople’snews,andnowthatarealpieceofnewshascomemyownwayIamsoconfusedandbotheredthatIcan’tputtwowordstogether.IfIhadcomeinhereasajournalist,Ishouldhaveinterviewedmyselfandhadtwocolumnsineveryeveningpaper.Asitis,Iamgivingawayvaluablecopybytellingmystoryoverandovertoastringofdifferentpeople,andIcanmakenouseofitmyself.However,I’veheardyourname,Mr.SherlockHolmes,andifyou’llonlyexplainthisqueerbusiness,Ishallbepaidformytroubleintellingyouthestory.”
Holmessatdownandlistened.
“ItallseemstocentreroundthatbustofNapoleonwhichIboughtforthisveryroomaboutfourmonthsago.IpickeditupcheapfromHardingBrothers,twodoorsfromtheHighStreetStation.Agreatdealofmyjournalisticworkisdoneatnight,andIoftenwriteuntiltheearlymorning.Soitwasto-day.Iwassittinginmyden,whichisatthebackofthetopofthehouse,aboutthreeo’clock,whenIwasconvincedthatIheardsomesoundsdownstairs.Ilistened,buttheywerenotrepeated,andIconcludedthattheycamefromoutside.Thensuddenly,aboutfiveminuteslater,therecameamosthorribleyell—themostdreadfulsound,Mr.Holmes,thateverIheard.ItwillringinmyearsaslongasIlive.Isatfrozenwithhorrorforaminuteortwo.ThenIseizedthepokerandwentdownstairs.WhenIenteredthisroomIfoundthewindowwideopen,andIatonceobservedthatthebustwasgonefromthemantelpiece.
