Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
JonasOldacretheninformedmethattherewereanumberofdocuments—buildingleases,title-deeds,mortgages,scrip,andsoforth—whichitwasnecessarythatIshouldseeandunderstand.Hesaidthathismindwouldnotbeeasyuntilthewholethingwassettled,andhebeggedmetocomeouttohishouseatNorwoodthatnight,bringingthewillwithme,andtoarrangematters.‘Remember,myboy,notonewordtoyourparentsabouttheaffairuntileverythingissettled.Wewillkeepitasalittlesurpriseforthem.’Hewasveryinsistentuponthispoint,andmademepromiseitfaithfully.
“Youcanimagine,Mr.Holmes,thatIwasnotinahumourtorefusehimanythingthathemightask.Hewasmybenefactor,andallmydesirewastocarryouthiswishesineveryparticular.Isentatelegramhome,therefore,tosaythatIhadimportantbusinessonhand,andthatitwasimpossibleformetosayhowlateImightbe.Mr.Oldacrehadtoldmethathewouldlikemetohavesupperwithhimatnine,ashemightnotbehomebeforethathour.Ihadsomedifficultyinfindinghishouse,however,anditwasnearlyhalf-pastbeforeIreachedit.Ifoundhim——”
“Onemoment!”saidHolmes.“Whoopenedthedoor?”
“Amiddle-agedwoman,whowas,Isuppose,hishousekeeper.”
“Anditwasshe,Ipresume,whomentionedyourname?”
“Exactly,”saidMcFarlane.
“Prayproceed.”
McFarlanewipedhisdampbrow,andthencontinuedhisnarrative:
“Iwasshownbythiswomanintoasitting-room,whereafrugalsupperwaslaidout.Afterwards,Mr.
