Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Empty House
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“Thisis,indeed,liketheolddays.Weshallhavetimeforamouthfulofdinnerbeforeweneedgo.Well,then,aboutthatchasm.Ihadnoseriousdifficultyingettingoutofit,fortheverysimplereasonthatIneverwasinit.”
“Youneverwereinit?”
“No,Watson,Ineverwasinit.Mynotetoyouwasabsolutelygenuine.IhadlittledoubtthatIhadcometotheendofmycareerwhenIperceivedthesomewhatsinisterfigureofthelateProfessorMoriartystandinguponthenarrowpathwaywhichledtosafety.Ireadaninexorablepurposeinhisgreyeyes.Iexchangedsomeremarkswithhim,therefore,andobtainedhiscourteouspermissiontowritetheshortnotewhichyouafterwardsreceived.Ileftitwithmycigarette-boxandmystick,andIwalkedalongthepathway,Moriartystillatmyheels.WhenIreachedtheendIstoodatbay.Hedrewnoweapon,butherushedatmeandthrewhislongarmsaroundme.Heknewthathisowngamewasup,andwasonlyanxioustorevengehimselfuponme.Wetotteredtogetheruponthebrinkofthefall.Ihavesomeknowledge,however,ofbaritsu,ortheJapanesesystemofwrestling,whichhasmorethanoncebeenveryusefultome.Islippedthroughhisgrip,andhewithahorriblescreamkickedmadlyforafewseconds,andclawedtheairwithbothhishands.Butforallhiseffortshecouldnotgethisbalance,andoverhewent.Withmyfaceoverthebrink,Isawhimfallforalongway.Thenhestruckarock,boundedoff,andsplashedintothewater.”
Ilistenedwithamazementtothisexplanation,whichHolmesdeliveredbetweenthepuffsofhiscigarette.
