Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist
Hervisitwas,Iremember,extremelyunwelcometoHolmes,forhewasimmersedatthemomentinaveryabstruseandcomplicatedproblemconcerningthepeculiarpersecutiontowhichJohnVincentHarden,thewell-knowntobaccomillionaire,hadbeensubjected.Myfriend,wholovedaboveallthingsprecisionandconcentrationofthought,resentedanythingwhichdistractedhisattentionfromthematterinhand.Andyet,withoutaharshnesswhichwasforeigntohisnature,itwasimpossibletorefusetolistentothestoryoftheyoungandbeautifulwoman,tall,graceful,andqueenly,whopresentedherselfatBakerStreetlateintheevening,andimploredhisassistanceandadvice.Itwasvaintourgethathistimewasalreadyfullyoccupied,fortheyoungladyhadcomewiththedeterminationtotellherstory,anditwasevidentthatnothingshortofforcecouldgetheroutoftheroomuntilshehaddoneso.Witharesignedairandasomewhatwearysmile,Holmesbeggedthebeautifulintrudertotakeaseat,andtoinformuswhatitwasthatwastroublingher.
“Atleastitcannotbeyourhealth,”saidhe,ashiskeeneyesdartedoverher,“soardentabicyclistmustbefullofenergy.”
Sheglanceddowninsurpriseatherownfeet,andIobservedtheslightrougheningofthesideofthesolecausedbythefrictionoftheedgeofthepedal.
“Yes,Ibicycleagooddeal,Mr.Holmes,andthathassomethingtodowithmyvisittoyouto-day.”
Myfriendtookthelady’sunglovedhand,andexamineditwithascloseanattentionandaslittlesentimentasascientistwouldshowtoaspecimen.
