Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
“Apromiseisapromise,Mr.Holmes.IfElsiewishedtotellmeshewould.Ifnot,itisnotformetoforceherconfidence.ButIamjustifiedintakingmyownline—andIwill.”
“ThenIwillhelpyouwithallmyheart.Inthefirstplace,haveyouheardofanystrangersbeingseeninyourneighbourhood?”
“No.”
“Ipresumethatitisaveryquietplace.Anyfreshfacewouldcausecomment?”
“Intheimmediateneighbourhood,yes.Butwehaveseveralsmallwatering-placesnotveryfaraway.Andthefarmerstakeinlodgers.”
“Thesehieroglyphicshaveevidentlyameaning.Ifitisapurelyarbitraryone,itmaybeimpossibleforustosolveit.If,ontheotherhand,itissystematic,Ihavenodoubtthatweshallgettothebottomofit.ButthisparticularsampleissoshortthatIcandonothing,andthefactswhichyouhavebroughtmearesoindefinitethatwehavenobasisforaninvestigation.IwouldsuggestthatyoureturntoNorfolk,thatyoukeepakeenlookout,andthatyoutakeanexactcopyofanyfreshdancingmenwhichmayappear.Itisathousandpitiesthatwehavenotareproductionofthosewhichweredoneinchalkuponthewindow-sill.Makeadiscreetinquiryalsoastoanystrangersintheneighbourhood.Whenyouhavecollectedsomefreshevidence,cometomeagain.ThatisthebestadvicewhichIcangiveyou,Mr.HiltonCubitt.Ifthereareanypressingfreshdevelopments,IshallbealwaysreadytorundownandseeyouinyourNorfolkhome.
