Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Empty House
Ihadimaginedyouasoperatingfromthestreet,wheremyfriend,Lestradeandhismerrymenwereawaitingyou.Withthatexception,allhasgoneasIexpected.”
ColonelMoranturnedtotheofficialdetective.
“Youmayormaynothavejustcauseforarrestingme,”saidhe,“butatleasttherecanbenoreasonwhyIshouldsubmittothegibesofthisperson.IfIaminthehandsofthelaw,letthingsbedoneinalegalway.”
“Well,that’sreasonableenough,”saidLestrade.“Nothingfurtheryouhavetosay,Mr.Holmes,beforewego?”
Holmeshadpickedupthepowerfulair-gunfromthefloor,andwasexaminingitsmechanism.
“Anadmirableanduniqueweapon,”saidhe,“noiselessandoftremendouspower:IknewVonHerder,theblindGermanmechanic,whoconstructedittotheorderofthelateProfessorMoriarty.ForyearsIhavebeenawareofitsexistencethoughIhaveneverbeforehadtheopportunityofhandlingit.Icommenditveryspeciallytoyourattention,Lestradeandalsothebulletswhichfitit.”
“Youcantrustustolookafterthat,Mr.Holmes,”saidLestrade,asthewholepartymovedtowardsthedoor.“Anythingfurthertosay?”
“Onlytoaskwhatchargeyouintendtoprefer?”
“Whatcharge,sir?Why,ofcourse,theattemptedmurderofMr.SherlockHolmes.”
“Notso,Lestrade.Idonotproposetoappearinthematteratall.Toyou,andtoyouonly,belongsthecreditoftheremarkablearrestwhichyouhaveeffected.Yes,Lestrade,Icongratulateyou!Withyourusualhappymixtureofcunningandaudacity,youhavegothim.”
“Gothim!Gotwhom,Mr.
