Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Three Students
Inafewhourstheexaminationwouldcommence,andhewasstillinthedilemmabetweenmakingthefactspublicandallowingtheculprittocompeteforthevaluablescholarship.Hecouldhardlystandstillsogreatwashismentalagitation,andherantowardsHolmeswithtwoeagerhandsoutstretched.
“Thankheaventhatyouhavecome!Ifearedthatyouhadgivenitupindespair.WhatamItodo?Shalltheexaminationproceed?”
“Yes,letitproceed,byallmeans.”
“Butthisrascal?”
“Heshallnotcompete.”
“Youknowhim?”
“Ithinkso.Ifthismatterisnottobecomepublic,wemustgiveourselvescertainpowersandresolveourselvesintoasmallprivatecourt-martial.Youthere,ifyouplease,Soames!Watsonyouhere!I’lltakethearmchairinthemiddle.Ithinkthatwearenowsufficientlyimposingtostriketerrorintoaguiltybreast.Kindlyringthebell!”
Bannisterentered,andshrankbackinevidentsurpriseandfearatourjudicialappearance.
“Youwillkindlyclosethedoor,”saidHolmes.“Now,Bannister,willyoupleasetellusthetruthaboutyesterday’sincident?”
Themanturnedwhitetotherootsofhishair.
“Ihavetoldyoueverything,sir.”
“Nothingtoadd?”
“Nothingatall,sir.”
“Well,then,Imustmakesomesuggestionstoyou.Whenyousatdownonthatchairyesterday,didyoudosoinordertoconcealsomeobjectwhichwouldhaveshownwhohadbeenintheroom?”
Bannister’sfacewasghastly.
“No,sir,certainlynot.”
“Itisonlyasuggestion,”saidHolmes,suavely.“IfranklyadmitthatIamunabletoproveit.
