Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
Formyownpart,Ihadfollowedstepbystepthemethodsbywhichhehadtracedthevariouswindingsofthiscomplexcase,and,thoughIcouldnotyetperceivethegoalwhichwewouldreach,IunderstoodclearlythatHolmesexpectedthisgrotesquecriminaltomakeanattemptuponthetworemainingbusts,oneofwhich,Iremembered,wasatChiswick.Nodoubttheobjectofourjourneywastocatchhimintheveryact,andIcouldnotbutadmirethecunningwithwhichmyfriendhadinsertedawrongclueintheeveningpaper,soastogivethefellowtheideathathecouldcontinuehisschemewithimpunity.IwasnotsurprisedwhenHolmessuggestedthatIshouldtakemyrevolverwithme.Hehadhimselfpickeduptheloadedhunting-crop,whichwashisfavouriteweapon.
Afour-wheelerwasatthedoorateleven,andinitwedrovetoaspotattheothersideofHammersmithBridge.Herethecabmanwasdirectedtowait.Ashortwalkbroughtustoasecludedroadfringedwithpleasanthouses,eachstandinginitsowngrounds.Inthelightofastreetlampweread“LaburnumVilla”uponthegate-postofoneofthem.Theoccupantshadevidentlyretiredtorest,forallwasdarksaveforafanlightoverthehalldoor,whichshedasingleblurredcircleontothegardenpath.Thewoodenfencewhichseparatedthegroundsfromtheroadthrewadenseblackshadowupontheinnerside,andhereitwasthatwecrouched.
“Ifearthatyou’llhavealongwait,”Holmeswhispered.“Wemaythankourstarsthatitisnotraining.Idon’tthinkwecanevenventuretosmoketopassthetime.
