Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
Stevensonisfastenough,buthecouldn’tdropfromthetwenty-fiveline,andathree-quarterwhocan’teitherpuntordropisn’tworthaplaceforpacealone.No,Mr.Holmes,wearedoneunlessyoucanhelpmetofindGodfreyStaunton.”
Myfriendhadlistenedwithamusedsurprisetothislongspeech,whichwaspouredforthwithextraordinaryvigourandearnestness,everypointbeingdrivenhomebytheslappingofabrawnyhanduponthespeaker’sknee.WhenourvisitorwassilentHolmesstretchedouthishandandtookdownletter“S”ofhiscommonplacebook.Foronceheduginvainintothatmineofvariedinformation.
“ThereisArthurH.Staunton,therisingyoungforger,”saidhe,“andtherewasHenryStaunton,whomIhelpedtohang,butGodfreyStauntonisanewnametome.”
Itwasourvisitor’sturntolooksurprised.
“Why,Mr.Holmes,Ithoughtyouknewthings,”saidhe.“Isuppose,then,ifyouhaveneverheardofGodfreyStaunton,youdon’tknowCyrilOvertoneither?”
Holmesshookhisheadgoodhumouredly.
“GreatScott!”criedtheathlete.“Why,IwasfirstreserveforEnglandagainstWales,andI’veskipperedthe’Varsityallthisyear.Butthat’snothing!Ididn’tthinktherewasasoulinEnglandwhodidn’tknowGodfreyStaunton,thecrackthree-quarter,Cambridge,Blackheath,andfiveInternationals.GoodLord!Mr.Holmes,wherehaveyoulived?”
Holmeslaughedattheyounggiant’snaïveastonishment.
“Youliveinadifferentworldtome,Mr.Overton—asweeterandhealthierone.
