Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
Hewasflaxen-hairedandhandsome,inawashed-outnegativefashion,withfrightenedblueeyes,andaclean-shavenface,withaweak,sensitivemouth.Hisagemayhavebeenabouttwenty-seven,hisdressandbearingthatofagentleman.Fromthepocketofhislightsummerovercoatprotrudedthebundleofindorsedpaperswhichproclaimedhisprofession.
“Wemustusewhattimewehave,”saidHolmes.“Watson,wouldyouhavethekindnesstotakethepaperandtoreadtheparagraphinquestion?”
Underneaththevigorousheadlineswhichourclienthadquoted,Ireadthefollowingsuggestivenarrative:
“Latelastnight,orearlythismorning,anincidentoccurredatLowerNorwoodwhichpoints,itisfeared,toaseriouscrime.Mr.JonasOldacreisawell-knownresidentofthatsuburb,wherehehascarriedonhisbusinessasabuilderformanyyears.Mr.Oldacreisabachelor,fifty-twoyearsofage,andlivesinDeepDeneHouse,attheSydenhamendoftheroadofthatname.Hehashadthereputationofbeingamanofeccentrichabits,secretiveandretiring.Forsomeyearshehaspracticallywithdrawnfromthebusiness,inwhichheissaidtohavemassedconsiderablewealth.Asmalltimber-yardstillexists,however,atthebackofthehouse,andlastnight,abouttwelveo’clock,analarmwasgiventhatoneofthestackswasonfire.Theenginesweresoonuponthespot,butthedrywoodburnedwithgreatfury,anditwasimpossibletoarresttheconflagrationuntilthestackhadbeenentirelyconsumed.
