Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Speckled Band
AtWaterloowewerefortunateincatchingatrainforLeatherhead,wherewehiredatrapatthestationinnanddroveforfourorfivemilesthroughthelovelySurreylanes. Itwasaperfectday,withabrightsunandafewfleecycloudsintheheavens. Thetreesandwaysidehedgeswerejustthrowingouttheirfirstgreenshoots,andtheairwasfullofthepleasantsmellofthemoistearth. Tomeatleasttherewasastrangecontrastbetweenthesweetpromiseofthespringandthissinisterquestuponwhichwewereengaged. Mycompanionsatinthefrontofthetrap,hisarmsfolded,hishatpulleddownoverhiseyes,andhischinsunkuponhisbreast,buriedinthedeepestthought. Suddenly,however,hestarted,tappedmeontheshoulder,andpointedoverthemeadows
"Lookthere!"saidhe.
Aheavilytimberedparkstretchedupinagentleslope,thickeningintoagroveatthehighestpoint. Fromamidthebranchestherejuttedoutthegraygablesandhighroof-treeofaveryoldmansion.
"StokeMoran?"saidhe.
"Yes,sir,thatbethehouseofDr.GrimesbyRoylott,"remarkedthedriver.
"Thereissomebuildinggoingonthere,"saidHolmes;"thatiswherewearegoing."
"There’sthevillage,"saidthedriver,pointingtoaclusterofroofssomedistancetotheleft; "butifyouwanttogettothehouse,you’llfinditshortertogetoverthisstile,andsobythefoot-pathoverthefields. Thereitis,wheretheladyiswalking."
"Andthelady,Ifancy,isMissStoner,"observedHolmes,shadinghiseyes. "Yes,Ithinkwehadbetterdoasyousuggest."
