Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
Thelastsentencesofthedescriptionsay:
“‘ThedefeatoftheLightBluesmaybeentirelyattributedtotheunfortunateabsenceofthecrackInternational,GodfreyStaunton,whosewantwasfeltateveryinstantofthegame.Thelackofcombinationinthethree-quarterlineandtheirweaknessbothinattackanddefencemorethanneutralizedtheeffortsofaheavyandhard-workingpack.’”
“ThenourfriendOverton’sforebodingshavebeenjustified,”saidHolmes.“PersonallyIaminagreementwithDr.Armstrong,andfootballdoesnotcomewithinmyhorizon.Earlytobedto-night,Watson,forIforeseethatto-morrowmaybeaneventfulday.”
IwashorrifiedbymyfirstglimpseofHolmesnextmorning,forhesatbythefireholdinghistinyhypodermicsyringe.Iassociatedthatinstrumentwiththesingleweaknessofhisnature,andIfearedtheworstwhenIsawitglitteringinhishand.Helaughedatmyexpressionofdismayandlaidituponthetable.
“No,no,mydearfellow,thereisnocauseforalarm.Itisnotuponthisoccasiontheinstrumentofevil,butitwillratherprovetobethekeywhichwillunlockourmystery.OnthissyringeIbaseallmyhopes.Ihavejustreturnedfromasmallscoutingexpedition,andeverythingisfavourable.Eatagoodbreakfast,Watson,forIproposetogetuponDr.Armstrong’strailto-day,andonceonitIwillnotstopforrestorfooduntilIrunhimtohisburrow.”
“Inthatcase,”saidI,“wehadbestcarryourbreakfastwithus,forheismakinganearlystart.Hiscarriageisatthedoor.”
“Nevermind.Lethimgo.
