Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Boscombe Valley Mystery
"Surelyitwouldnotbedifficulttofindout. Thisisnotsuchapopulousneighbourhood."
Lestradeshruggedhisshoulders. "Iamapracticalman,"hesaid,"andIreallycannotundertaketogoaboutthecountrylookingforaleft-handedgentlemanwithagame-leg. Ishouldbecomethelaughing-stockofScotlandYard."
"Allright,"saidHolmesquietly. "Ihavegivenyouthechance. Hereareyourlodgings. Good-bye. IshalldropyoualinebeforeIleave."
HavingleftLestradeathisrooms,wedrovetoourhotel,wherewefoundlunchuponthetable. Holmeswassilentandburiedinthoughtwithapainedexpressionuponhisface,asonewhofindshimselfinaperplexingposition.
"Lookhere,Watson,"hesaidwhentheclothwascleared"justsitdowninthischairandletmepreachtoyouforalittle,don’tknowquitewhattodo,andIshouldvalueyouradvice. Lightacigarandletmeexpound."
"Praydoso."
"Well,now,inconsideringthiscasetherearetwopointsaboutyoungMcCarthy’snarrativewhichstruckusbothinstantly,althoughtheyimpressedmeinhisfavourandyouagainsthim. Onewasthefactthathisfathershould,accordingtohisaccount,cry‘Cooee!’beforeseeinghim. Theotherwashissingulardyingreferencetoarat. Hemumbledseveralwords,youunderstand,butthatwasallthatcaughttheson’sear. Nowfromthisdoublepointourresearchmustcommence,andwewillbeginitbypresumingthatwhattheladsaysisabsolutelytrue."
"Whatofthis‘Cooee!’then?"