Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez
That’swhatbothersme—Ican’tputmyhandonamotive.Here’samandead—there’snodenyingthat—but,sofarasIcansee,noreasononearthwhyanyoneshouldwishhimharm.”
Holmeslithiscigarandleanedbackinhischair.
“Letushearaboutit,”saidhe.
“I’vegotmyfactsprettyclear,”saidStanleyHopkins.“AllIwantnowistoknowwhattheyallmean.Thestory,sofarasIcanmakeitout,islikethis.Someyearsagothiscountryhouse,YoxleyOldPlace,wastakenbyanelderlyman,whogavethenameofProfessorCoram.Hewasaninvalid,keepinghisbedhalfthetime,andtheotherhalfhobblingroundthehousewithastickorbeingpushedaboutthegroundsbythegardenerinaBathchair.Hewaswelllikedbythefewneighbourswhocalleduponhim,andhehasthereputationdownthereofbeingaverylearnedman.Hishouseholdusedtoconsistofanelderlyhousekeeper,Mrs.Marker,andofamaid,SusanTarlton.Thesehavebothbeenwithhimsincehisarrival,andtheyseemtobewomenofexcellentcharacter.Theprofessoriswritingalearnedbook,andhefounditnecessary,aboutayearago,toengageasecretary.Thefirsttwothathetriedwerenotsuccesses,butthethird,Mr.WilloughbySmith,averyyoungmanstraightfromtheuniversity,seemstohavebeenjustwhathisemployerwanted.Hisworkconsistedinwritingallthemorningtotheprofessor’sdictation,andheusuallyspenttheeveninginhuntingupreferencesandpassageswhichboreuponthenextday’swork.
