Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
IamafraidthatImustleaveyoutoyourowndevices,astheappearanceoftwoinquiringstrangersuponasleepycountrysidemightexcitemoregossipthanIcarefor.Nodoubtyouwillfindsomesightstoamuseyouinthisvenerablecity,andIhopetobringbackamorefavourablereporttoyoubeforeevening.”
Oncemore,however,myfriendwasdestinedtobedisappointed.Hecamebackatnightwearyandunsuccessful.
“Ihavehadablankday,Watson.Havinggotthedoctor’sgeneraldirection,IspentthedayinvisitingallthevillagesuponthatsideofCambridge,andcomparingnoteswithpublicansandotherlocalnewsagencies.Ihavecoveredsomeground.Chesterton,Histon,Waterbeach,andOakingtonhaveeachbeenexplored,andhaveeachproveddisappointing.ThedailyappearanceofabroughamandpaircouldhardlyhavebeenoverlookedinsuchSleepyHollows.Thedoctorhasscoredoncemore.Isthereatelegramforme?”
“Yes,Iopenedit.Hereitis:
“AskforPompeyfromJeremyDixon,TrinityCollege.”
“Idon’tunderstandit.”
“Oh,itisclearenough.ItisfromourfriendOverton,andisinanswertoaquestionfromme.I’lljustsendroundanotetoMr.JeremyDixon,andthenIhavenodoubtthatourluckwillturn.Bytheway,isthereanynewsofthematch?”
“Yes,thelocaleveningpaperhasanexcellentaccountinitslastedition.Oxfordwonbyagoalandtwotries.
