Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
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“Noharm?Youhavedoneyourbesttogetaninnocentmanhanged.Ifitwasn’tforthisgentlemanhere,Iamnotsurethatyouwouldnothavesucceeded.”
Thewretchedcreaturebegantowhimper.
“Iamsure,sir,itwasonlymypracticaljoke.”
“Oh!ajoke,wasit?Youwon’tfindthelaughonyourside,Ipromiseyou.Takehimdown,andkeephiminthesitting-roomuntilIcome.Mr.Holmes,”hecontinued,whentheyhadgone,“Icouldnotspeakbeforetheconstables,butIdon’tmindsaying,inthepresenceofDr.Watson,thatthisisthebrightestthingthatyouhavedoneyet,thoughitisamysterytomehowyoudidit.Youhavesavedaninnocentman’slife,andyouhavepreventedaverygravescandal,whichwouldhaveruinedmyreputationintheForce.”
Holmessmiled,andclappedLestradeupontheshoulder.
“Insteadofbeingruined,mygoodsir,youwillfindthatyourreputationhasbeenenormouslyenhanced.Justmakeafewalterationsinthatreportwhichyouwerewriting,andtheywillunderstandhowharditistothrowdustintheeyesofInspectorLestrade.”
“Andyoudon’twantyournametoappear?”
“Notatall.Theworkisitsownreward.PerhapsIshallgetthecreditalsoatsomedistantday,whenIpermitmyzealoushistoriantolayouthisfoolscaponcemore—eh,Watson?Well,now,letusseewherethisrathasbeenlurking.”
Alath-and-plasterpartitionhadbeenrunacrossthepassagesixfeetfromtheend,withadoorcunninglyconcealedinit.Itwaslitwithinbyslitsundertheeaves.
