Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez
”
“Ofcourseyouwould.Meanwhile,haveyouanythingmoretotellusaboutthecase?”
“Nothing,Mr.Holmes.IthinkthatyouknowasmuchasIdonow—probablymore.Wehavehadinquiriesmadeastoanystrangerseenonthecountryroadsorattherailwaystation.Wehaveheardofnone.Whatbeatsmeistheutterwantofallobjectinthecrime.Notaghostofamotivecananyonesuggest.”
“Ah!thereIamnotinapositiontohelpyou.ButIsupposeyouwantustocomeoutto-morrow?”
“Ifitisnotaskingtoomuch,Mr.Holmes.There’satrainfromCharingCrosstoChathamatsixinthemorning,andweshouldbeatYoxleyOldPlacebetweeneightandnine.”
“Thenweshalltakeit.Yourcasehascertainlysomefeaturesofgreatinterest,andIshallbedelightedtolookintoit.Well,it’snearlyone,andwehadbestgetafewhours’sleep.Idaresayyoucanmanageallrightonthesofainfrontofthefire.I’lllightmyspiritlamp,andgiveyouacupofcoffeebeforewestart.”
Thegalehadblownitselfoutnextday,butitwasabittermorningwhenwestarteduponourjourney.WesawthecoldwintersunriseoverthedrearymarshesoftheThamesandthelong,sullenreachesoftheriver,whichIshalleverassociatewithourpursuitoftheAndamanIslanderintheearlierdaysofourcareer.Afteralongandwearyjourney,wealightedatasmallstationsomemilesfromChatham.Whileahorsewasbeingputintoatrapatthelocalinn,wesnatchedahurriedbreakfast,andsowewereallreadyforbusinesswhenweatlastarrivedatYoxleyOldPlace.Aconstablemetusatthegardengate.
