Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
AbouttwointhemorningIwasseatedbythewindow,allbeingdarksaveforthemoonlightoutside,whenIheardstepsbehindme,andtherewasmywifeinherdressing-gown.Sheimploredmetocometobed.ItoldherfranklythatIwishedtoseewhoitwaswhoplayedsuchabsurdtricksuponus.Sheansweredthatitwassomesenselesspracticaljoke,andthatIshouldnottakeanynoticeofit.
“‘Ifitreallyannoysyou,Hilton,wemightgoandtravel,youandI,andsoavoidthisnuisance.’
“‘What,bedrivenoutofourownhousebyapracticaljoker?’saidI.‘Why,weshouldhavethewholecountylaughingatus.’
“‘Well,cometobed,’saidshe,‘andwecandiscussitinthemorning.’
“Suddenly,asshespoke,Isawherwhitefacegrowwhiteryetinthemoonlight,andherhandtighteneduponmyshoulder.Somethingwasmovingintheshadowofthetool-house.Isawadark,creepingfigurewhichcrawledroundthecornerandsquattedinfrontofthedoor.Seizingmypistol,Iwasrushingout,whenmywifethrewherarmsroundmeandheldmewithconvulsivestrength.Itriedtothrowheroff,butsheclungtomemostdesperately.AtlastIgotclear,butbythetimeIhadopenedthedoorandreachedthehousethecreaturewasgone.Hehadleftatraceofhispresence,however,forthereonthedoorwastheverysamearrangementofdancingmenwhichhadalreadytwiceappeared,andwhichIhavecopiedonthatpaper.Therewasnoothersignofthefellowanywhere,thoughIranalloverthegrounds.
