Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
Hehadoncebeenaskilfulsculptorandhadearnedanhonestliving,buthehadtakentoevilcoursesandhadtwicealreadybeeninjail—onceforapettytheft,andonce,aswehadalreadyheard,forstabbingafellow-countryman.HecouldtalkEnglishperfectlywell.Hisreasonsfordestroyingthebustswerestillunknown,andherefusedtoansweranyquestionsuponthesubject,butthepolicehaddiscoveredthatthesesamebustsmightverywellhavebeenmadebyhisownhands,sincehewasengagedinthisclassofworkattheestablishmentofGelder&Co.Toallthisinformation,muchofwhichwealreadyknew,Holmeslistenedwithpoliteattention,butI,whoknewhimsowell,couldclearlyseethathisthoughtswereelsewhere,andIdetectedamixtureofmingleduneasinessandexpectationbeneaththatmaskwhichhewaswonttoassume.Atlasthestartedinhischair,andhiseyesbrightened.Therehadbeenaringatthebell.Aminutelaterweheardstepsuponthestairs,andanelderlyred-facedmanwithgrizzledside-whiskerswasusheredin.Inhisrighthandhecarriedanold-fashionedcarpet-bag,whichheplaceduponthetable.
“IsMr.SherlockHolmeshere?”
Myfriendbowedandsmiled.“Mr.Sandeford,ofReading,Isuppose?”saidhe.
“Yes,sir,IfearthatIamalittlelate,butthetrainswereawkward.Youwrotetomeaboutabustthatisinmypossession.”
“Exactly.”
“Ihaveyourletterhere.Yousaid,‘IdesiretopossessacopyofDevine’sNapoleon,andampreparedtopayyoutenpoundsfortheonewhichisinyourpossession.’Isthatright?”
“Certainly.
