Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
Youmaypossiblyrememberthatyouchaffedmealittle,somehoursago,whenthesunseemedonyoursideofthehedge,soyoumustnotgrudgemealittlepompandceremonynow.MightIaskyou,Watson,toopenthatwindow,andthentoputamatchtotheedgeofthestraw?”
Ididso,anddrivenbythedraughtacoilofgreysmokeswirleddownthecorridor,whilethedrystrawcrackledandflamed.
“Nowwemustseeifwecanfindthiswitnessforyou,Lestrade.MightIaskyoualltojoininthecryof‘Fire!’?Nowthen;one,two,three——”
“Fire!”weallyelled.
“Thankyou.Iwilltroubleyouonceagain.”
“Fire!”
“Justoncemore,gentlemen,andalltogether.”
“Fire!”TheshoutmusthaverungoverNorwood.
Ithadhardlydiedawaywhenanamazingthinghappened.Adoorsuddenlyflewopenoutofwhatappearedtobesolidwallattheendofthecorridor,andalittle,wizenedmandartedoutofit,likearabbitoutofitsburrow.
“Capital!”saidHolmes,calmly.“Watson,abucketofwateroverthestraw.Thatwilldo!Lestrade,allowmetopresentyouwithyourprincipalmissingwitness,Mr.JonasOldacre.”
Thedetectivestaredatthenewcomerwithblankamazement.Thelatterwasblinkinginthebrightlightofthecorridor,andpeeringatusandatthesmoulderingfire.Itwasanodiousface—crafty,vicious,malignant,withshifty,light-greyeyesandwhitelashes.
“What’sthis,then?”saidLestrade,atlast.“Whathaveyoubeendoingallthistime,eh?”
Oldacregaveanuneasylaugh,shrinkingbackfromthefuriousredfaceoftheangrydetective.
“Ihavedonenoharm.
