Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
“MayIaskiftheyarealllarge,able-bodiedmenwithpowerfulvoices?”
“Ihavenodoubttheyare,thoughIfailtoseewhattheirvoiceshavetodowithit.”
“PerhapsIcanhelpyoutoseethatandoneortwootherthingsaswell,”saidHolmes.“Kindlysummonyourmen,andIwilltry.”
Fiveminuteslater,threepolicemenhadassembledinthehall.
“Intheouthouseyouwillfindaconsiderablequantityofstraw,”saidHolmes.“Iwillaskyoutocarryintwobundlesofit.IthinkitwillbeofthegreatestassistanceinproducingthewitnesswhomIrequire.Thankyouverymuch.IbelieveyouhavesomematchesinyourpocketWatson.Now,Mr.Lestrade,Iwillaskyoualltoaccompanymetothetoplanding.”
AsIhavesaid,therewasabroadcorridorthere,whichranoutsidethreeemptybedrooms.AtoneendofthecorridorwewereallmarshalledbySherlockHolmes,theconstablesgrinningandLestradestaringatmyfriendwithamazement,expectation,andderisionchasingeachotheracrosshisfeatures.Holmesstoodbeforeuswiththeairofaconjurerwhoisperformingatrick.
“Wouldyoukindlysendoneofyourconstablesfortwobucketsofwater?Putthestrawonthefloorhere,freefromthewalloneitherside.NowIthinkthatweareallready.”
Lestrade’sfacehadbeguntogrowredandangry.“Idon’tknowwhetheryouareplayingagamewithus,Mr.SherlockHolmes,”saidhe.“Ifyouknowanything,youcansurelysayitwithoutallthistomfoolery.”
“Iassureyou,mygoodLestrade,thatIhaveanexcellentreasonforeverythingthatIdo.
