Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
Iwasstandingbythedoor,andhewithhisbackturnedatthattable.Whenhehadwrittenit,hesaid:‘Allright,porter,Iwilltakethismyself.’”
“Whatdidhewriteitwith?”
“Apen,sir.”
“Wasthetelegraphicformoneoftheseonthetable?”
“Yes,sir,itwasthetopone.”
Holmesrose.Takingtheforms,hecarriedthemovertothewindowandcarefullyexaminedthatwhichwasuppermost.
“Itisapityhedidnotwriteinpencil,”saidhe,throwingthemdownagainwithashrugofdisappointment.“Asyouhavenodoubtfrequentlyobserved,Watson,theimpressionusuallygoesthrough—afactwhichhasdissolvedmanyahappymarriage.However,Icanfindnotracehere.Irejoice,however,toperceivethathewrotewithabroad-pointedquillpen,andIcanhardlydoubtthatwewillfindsomeimpressionuponthisblotting-pad.Ah,yes,surelythisistheverything!”
Hetoreoffastripoftheblotting-paperandturnedtowardsusthefollowinghieroglyphic:
CyrilOvertonwasmuchexcited.“Holdittotheglass!”hecried.
“Thatisunnecessary,”saidHolmes.“Thepaperisthin,andthereversewillgivethemessage.Hereitis.”Heturneditover,andweread:
“SothatisthetailendofthetelegramwhichGodfreyStauntondispatchedwithinafewhoursofhisdisappearance.Thereareatleastsixwordsofthemessagewhichhaveescapedus;butwhatremains—‘StandbyusforGod’ssake!’—provesthatthisyoungmansawaformidabledangerwhichapproachedhim,andfromwhichsomeoneelsecouldprotecthim.‘Us,’markyou!Anotherpersonwasinvolved.
