Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
Finally,hepickeduphishunting-cropandstruckNapoleonasharpblowonthetopofthehead.Thefigurebrokeintofragments,andHolmesbenteagerlyovertheshatteredremains.Nextinstant,withaloudshoutoftriumphhehelduponesplinter,inwhicharound,darkobjectwasfixedlikeapluminapudding.
“Gentlemen,”hecried,“letmeintroduceyoutothefamousblackpearloftheBorgias.”
LestradeandIsatsilentforamoment,andthen,withaspontaneousimpulse,webothbrokeatclapping,asatthewell-wroughtcrisisofaplay.AflushofcoloursprangtoHolmes’spalecheeks,andhebowedtouslikethemasterdramatistwhoreceivesthehomageofhisaudience.Itwasatsuchmomentsthatforaninstantheceasedtobeareasoningmachine,andbetrayedhishumanloveforadmirationandapplause.Thesamesingularlyproudandreservednaturewhichturnedawaywithdisdainfrompopularnotorietywascapableofbeingmovedtoitsdepthsbyspontaneouswonderandpraisefromafriend.
“Yes,gentlemen,”saidhe,“itisthemostfamouspearlnowexistingintheworld,andithasbeenmygoodfortune,byaconnectedchainofinductivereasoning,totraceitfromthePrinceofColonna’sbedroomattheDacreHotel,whereitwaslost,totheinteriorofthis,thelastofthesixbustsofNapoleonwhichweremanufacturedbyGelder&Co.,ofStepney.Youwillremember,Lestrade,thesensationcausedbythedisappearanceofthisvaluablejewelandthevaineffortsoftheLondonpolicetorecoverit.Iwasmyselfconsulteduponthecase,butIwasunabletothrowanylightuponit.
