Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
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Aheavystepwashearduponthestairs,andaninstantlaterthereenteredatall,ruddy,clean-shavengentleman,whosecleareyesandfloridcheekstoldofalifeledfarfromthefogsofBakerStreet.Heseemedtobringawhiffofhisstrong,fresh,bracing,east-coastairwithhimasheentered.Havingshakenhandswitheachofus,hewasabouttositdown,whenhiseyeresteduponthepaperwiththecuriousmarkings,whichIhadjustexaminedandleftuponthetable.
“Well,Mr.Holmes,whatdoyoumakeofthese?”hecried.“Theytoldmethatyouwerefondofqueermysteries,andIdon’tthinkyoucanfindaqueereronethanthat.Isentthepaperonahead,sothatyoumighthavetimetostudyitbeforeIcame.”
“Itiscertainlyratheracuriousproduction,”saidHolmes.“Atfirstsightitwouldappeartobesomechildishprank.Itconsistsofanumberofabsurdlittlefiguresdancingacrossthepaperuponwhichtheyaredrawn.Whyshouldyouattributeanyimportancetosogrotesqueanobject?”
“Inevershould,Mr.Holmes.Butmywifedoes.Itisfrighteninghertodeath.Shesaysnothing,butIcanseeterrorinhereyes.That’swhyIwanttosiftthemattertothebottom.”
Holmesheldupthepapersothatthesunlightshonefulluponit.Itwasapagetornfromanotebook.Themarkingsweredoneinpencil,andraninthisway:
Holmesexamineditforsometime,andthen,foldingitcarefullyup,heplaceditinhispocketbook.
“Thispromisestobeamostinterestingandunusualcase,”saidhe.“Yougavemeafewparticularsinyourletter,Mr.
