Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
WiththeboundofatigerHolmeswasonhisback,andaninstantlaterLestradeandIhadhimbyeitherwrist,andthehandcuffshadbeenfastened.AsweturnedhimoverIsawahideous,sallowface,withwrithing,furiousfeatures,glaringupatus,andIknewthatitwasindeedthemanofthephotographwhomwehadsecured.
ButitwasnotourprisonertowhomHolmeswasgivinghisattention.Squattedonthedoorstep,hewasengagedinmostcarefullyexaminingthatwhichthemanhadbroughtfromthehouse.ItwasabustofNapoleon,liketheonewhichwehadseenthatmorning,andithadbeenbrokenintosimilarfragments.CarefullyHolmesheldeachseparateshardtothelight,butinnowaydiditdifferfromanyothershatteredpieceofplaster.Hehadjustcompletedhisexaminationwhenthehalllightsflewup,thedooropened,andtheownerofthehouse,ajovial,rotundfigureinshirtandtrousers,presentedhimself.
“Mr.JosiahBrown,Isuppose?”saidHolmes.
“Yes,sir;andyou,nodoubt,areMr.SherlockHolmes?Ihadthenotewhichyousentbytheexpressmessenger,andIdidexactlywhatyoutoldme.Welockedeverydoorontheinsideandawaiteddevelopments.Well,I’mverygladtoseethatyouhavegottherascal.Ihope,gentlemen,thatyouwillcomeinandhavesomerefreshment.”
However,Lestradewasanxioustogethismanintosafequarters,sowithinafewminutesourcabhadbeensummonedandwewereallfouruponourwaytoLondon.
