Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
”
“Ifearitistoodeepacaseforsuchsimpleremedies,”saidHolmes.“HowlongcanyoustayinLondon?”
“Imustgobackto-day.Iwouldnotleavemywifealoneallnightforanything.Sheisverynervous,andbeggedmetocomeback.”
“Idaresayyouareright.Butifyoucouldhavestopped,Imightpossiblyhavebeenabletoreturnwithyouinadayortwo.Meanwhileyouwillleavemethesepapers,andIthinkthatitisverylikelythatIshallbeabletopayyouavisitshortlyandtothrowsomelightuponyourcase.”
SherlockHolmespreservedhiscalmprofessionalmanneruntilourvisitorhadleftus,althoughitwaseasyforme,whoknewhimsowell,toseethathewasprofoundlyexcited.ThemomentthatHiltonCubitt’sbroadbackhaddisappearedthroughthedoormycomraderushedtothetable,laidoutalltheslipsofpapercontainingdancingmeninfrontofhim,andthrewhimselfintoanintricateandelaboratecalculation.FortwohoursIwatchedhimashecoveredsheetaftersheetofpaperwithfiguresandletters,socompletelyabsorbedinhistaskthathehadevidentlyforgottenmypresence.Sometimeshewasmakingprogressandwhistledandsangathiswork;sometimeshewaspuzzled,andwouldsitforlongspellswithafurrowedbrowandavacanteye.Finallyhesprangfromhischairwithacryofsatisfaction,andwalkedupanddowntheroomrubbinghishandstogether.Thenhewrotealongtelegramuponacableform.“IfmyanswertothisisasIhope,youwillhaveaveryprettycasetoaddtoyourcollection,Watson,”saidhe.
