Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
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“Onemoment—onemoment!”criedaquerulousvoice,andwelookeduptofindaqueerlittleoldman,jerkingandtwitchinginthedoorway.Hewasdressedinrustyblack,withaverybroad-brimmedtop-hatandaloosewhitenecktie—thewholeeffectbeingthatofaveryrusticparsonorofanundertaker’smute.Yet,inspiteofhisshabbyandevenabsurdappearance,hisvoicehadasharpcrackle,andhismanneraquickintensitywhichcommandedattention.
“Whoareyou,sir,andbywhatrightdoyoutouchthisgentleman’spapers?”heasked.
“Iamaprivatedetective,andIamendeavouringtoexplainhisdisappearance.”
“Oh,youare,areyou?Andwhoinstructedyou,eh?”
“Thisgentleman,Mr.Staunton’sfriend,wasreferredtomebyScotlandYard.”
“Whoareyou,sir?”
“IamCyrilOverton.”
“Thenitisyouwhosentmeatelegram.MynameisLordMount-James.IcameroundasquicklyastheBayswaterbuswouldbringme.Soyouhaveinstructedadetective?”
“Yes,sir.”
“Andareyoupreparedtomeetthecost?”
“Ihavenodoubt,sir,thatmyfriendGodfrey,whenwefindhim,willbepreparedtodothat.”
“Butifheisneverfound,eh?Answermethat!”
“Inthatcase,nodoubthisfamily——”
“Nothingofthesort,sir!”screamedthelittleman.“Don’tlooktomeforapenny—notapenny!Youunderstandthat,Mr.Detective!Iamallthefamilythatthisyoungmanhasgot,andItellyouthatIamnotresponsible.IfhehasanyexpectationsitisduetothefactthatIhaveneverwastedmoney,andIdonotproposetobegintodosonow.
