Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
A Scandal in Bohemia
SosaytheSerpentine-mews,toaman. Shelivesquietly,singsatconcerts,drivesoutatfiveeveryday,andreturnsatsevensharpfordinner. Seldomgoesoutatothertimes,exceptwhenshesings. Hasonlyonemalevisitor,butagooddealofhim. Heisdark,handsome,anddashing,nevercallslessthanonceaday,andoftentwice. HeisaMr.GodfreyNorton,oftheInnerTemple. Seetheadvantagesofacabmanasaconfidant. TheyhaddrivenhimhomeadozentimesfromSerpentine-mews,andknewallabouthim. WhenIhadlistenedtoalltheyhadtotell,IbegantowalkupanddownnearBrionyLodgeoncemore,andtothinkovermyplanofcampaign.
"ThisGodfreyNortonwasevidentlyanimportantfactorinthematter. Hewasalawyer. Thatsoundedominous. Whatwastherelationbetweenthem,andwhattheobjectofhisrepeatedvisits? Wasshehisclient,hisfriend,orhismistress? Iftheformer,shehadprobablytransferredthephotographtohiskeeping. Ifthelatter,itwaslesslikely. OntheissueofthisquestiondependedwhetherIshouldcontinuemyworkatBrionyLodge,orturnmyattentiontothegentleman’schambersintheTemple. Itwasadelicatepoint,anditwidenedthefieldofmyinquiry. IfearthatIboreyouwiththesedetails,butIhavetoletyouseemylittledifficulties,ifyouaretounderstandthesituation."
"Iamfollowingyouclosely,"Ianswered.
"IwasstillbalancingthematterinmymindwhenahansomcabdroveuptoBrionyLodge,andagentlemansprangout. Hewasaremarkablyhandsomeman,dark,aquiline,andmoustached—evidentlythemanofwhomIhadheard. Heappearedtobeinagreathurry,shoutedtothecabmantowait,andbrushedpastthemaidwhoopenedthedoorwiththeairofamanwhowasthoroughlyathome.
