Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
Incidentally,Imaytellyouthatwearedoingthereverseofwhatyouveryjustlyblame,andthatweareendeavouringtopreventanythinglikepublicexposureofprivatematterswhichmustnecessarilyfollowwhenoncethecaseisfairlyinthehandsoftheofficialpolice.Youmaylookuponmesimplyasanirregularpioneer,whogoesinfrontoftheregularforcesofthecountry.IhavecometoaskyouaboutMr.GodfreyStaunton.”
“Whatabouthim?”
“Youknowhim,doyounot?”
“Heisanintimatefriendofmine.”
“Youareawarethathehasdisappeared?”
“Ah,indeed!”Therewasnochangeofexpressionintheruggedfeaturesofthedoctor.
“Helefthishotellastnight—hehasnotbeenheardof.”
“Nodoubthewillreturn.”
“To-morrowisthe’Varsityfootballmatch.”
“Ihavenosympathywiththesechildishgames.Theyoungman’sfateinterestsmedeeply,sinceIknowhimandlikehim.Thefootballmatchdoesnotcomewithinmyhorizonatall.”
“Iclaimyoursympathy,then,inmyinvestigationofMr.Staunton’sfate.Doyouknowwhereheis?”
“Certainlynot.”
“Youhavenotseenhimsinceyesterday?”
“No,Ihavenot.”
“WasMr.Stauntonahealthyman?”
“Absolutely.”
“Didyoueverknowhimill?”
“Never.”
Holmespoppedasheetofpaperbeforethedoctor’seyes.“Thenperhapsyouwillexplainthisreceiptedbillforthirteenguineas,paidbyMr.GodfreyStauntonlastmonthtoDr.LeslieArmstrong,ofCambridge.Ipickeditoutfromamongthepapersuponhisdesk.”
Thedoctorflushedwithanger.
