Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
Notawordwouldourcaptivesay,butheglaredatusfromtheshadowofhismattedhair,andonce,whenmyhandseemedwithinhisreach,hesnappedatitlikeahungrywolf.Westayedlongenoughatthepolice-stationtolearnthatasearchofhisclothingrevealednothingsaveafewshillingsandalongsheathknife,thehandleofwhichborecopioustracesofrecentblood.
“That’sallright,”saidLestrade,asweparted.“Hillknowsallthesegentry,andhewillgiveanametohim.You’llfindthatmytheoryoftheMafiawillworkoutallright.ButI’msureIamexceedinglyobligedtoyou,Mr.Holmes,fortheworkmanlikewayinwhichyoulaidhandsuponhim.Idon’tquiteunderstanditallyet.”
“Ifearitisrathertoolateanhourforexplanations,”saidHolmes.“Besides,thereareoneortwodetailswhicharenotfinishedoff,anditisoneofthosecaseswhichareworthworkingouttotheveryend.Ifyouwillcomeroundoncemoretomyroomsatsixo’clockto-morrow,IthinkIshallbeabletoshowyouthatevennowyouhavenotgraspedtheentiremeaningofthisbusiness,whichpresentssomefeatureswhichmakeitabsolutelyoriginalinthehistoryofcrime.IfeverIpermityoutochronicleanymoreofmylittleproblems,Watson,IforeseethatyouwillenlivenyourpagesbyanaccountofthesingularadventureoftheNapoleonicbusts.”
Whenwemetagainnextevening,Lestradewasfurnishedwithmuchinformationconcerningourprisoner.Hisname,itappeared,wasBeppo,secondnameunknown.Hewasawell-knownne’er-do-wellamongtheItaliancolony.
