Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez
“AtfirstthemaidthoughtthatyoungSmithwasalreadydead,butonpouringsomewaterfromthecarafeoverhisforeheadheopenedhiseyesforaninstant.‘Theprofessor,’hemurmured—‘itwasshe.’Themaidispreparedtoswearthatthoseweretheexactwords.Hetrieddesperatelytosaysomethingelse,andheheldhisrighthandupintheair.Thenhefellbackdead.
“Inthemeantimethehousekeeperhadalsoarriveduponthescene,butshewasjusttoolatetocatchtheyoungman’sdyingwords.LeavingSusanwiththebody,shehurriedtotheprofessor’sroom.Hewassittingupinbed,horriblyagitated,forhehadheardenoughtoconvincehimthatsomethingterriblehadoccurred.Mrs.Markerispreparedtoswearthattheprofessorwasstillinhisnight-clothes,andindeeditwasimpossibleforhimtodresswithoutthehelpofMortimer,whoseordersweretocomeattwelveo’clock.Theprofessordeclaresthatheheardthedistantcry,butthatheknowsnothingmore.Hecangivenoexplanationoftheyoungman’slastwords,‘Theprofessor—itwasshe,’butimaginesthattheyweretheoutcomeofdelirium.HebelievesthatWilloughbySmithhadnotanenemyintheworld,andcangivenoreasonforthecrime.HisfirstactionwastosendMortimer,thegardener,forthelocalpolice.Alittlelaterthechiefconstablesentforme.NothingwasmovedbeforeIgotthere,andstrictordersweregiventhatnooneshouldwalkuponthepathsleadingtothehouse.Itwasasplendidchanceofputtingyourtheoriesintopractice,Mr.SherlockHolmes.Therewasreallynothingwanting.”
“ExceptMr.
