Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
Hehadbeenuneasyduringallourjourneyfromtown,andIhadobservedthathehadturnedoverthemorningpaperswithanxiousattention,butnowthissuddenrealizationofhisworstfearslefthiminablankmelancholy.Heleanedbackinhisseat,lostingloomyspeculation.Yettherewasmucharoundtointerestus,forwewerepassingthroughassingularacountrysideasanyinEngland,whereafewscatteredcottagesrepresentedthepopulationofto-day,whileoneveryhandenormoussquare-toweredchurchesbristledupfromtheflatgreenlandscapeandtoldofthegloryandprosperityofoldEastAnglia.AtlastthevioletrimoftheGermanOceanappearedoverthegreenedgeoftheNorfolkcoast,andthedriverpointedwithhiswhiptotwooldbrickandtimbergableswhichprojectedfromagroveoftrees.“That’sRidingThorpeManor,”saidhe.
Aswedroveuptotheporticoedfrontdoor,Iobservedinfrontofit,besidethetennislawn,theblacktool-houseandthepedestalledsundialwithwhichwehadsuchstrangeassociations.Adapperlittleman,withaquick,alertmannerandawaxedmoustache,hadjustdescendedfromahighdog-cart.HeintroducedhimselfasInspectorMartin,oftheNorfolkConstabulary,andhewasconsiderablyastonishedwhenheheardthenameofmycompanion.
“Why,Mr.Holmes,thecrimewasonlycommittedatthreethismorning.HowcouldyouhearofitinLondonandgettothespotassoonasI?”
“Ianticipatedit.Icameinthehopeofpreventingit.”
“Thenyoumusthaveimportantevidence,ofwhichweareignorant,fortheyweresaidtobeamostunitedcouple.
