Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Speckled Band
Fromoutsidecametheoccasionalcryofanight-bird,andonceatourverywindowalongdrawncatlikewhine,whichtoldusthatthecheetahwasindeedatliberty. Farawaywecouldhearthedeeptonesoftheparishclock,whichboomedouteveryquarterofanhour. Howlongtheyseemed,thosequarters! Twelvestruck,andoneandtwoandthree,andstillwesatwaitingsilentlyforwhatevermightbefall.
Suddenlytherewasthemomentarygleamofalightupinthedirectionoftheventilator,whichvanishedimmediately,butwassucceededbyastrongsmellofburningoilandheatedmetal. Someoneinthenextroomhadlitadark-lantern. Iheardagentlesoundofmovement,andthenallwassilentoncemore,thoughthesmellgrewstronger. ForhalfanhourIsatwithstrainingears. Thensuddenlyanothersoundbecameaudible—averygentle,soothingsound,likethatofasmalljetofsteamescapingcontinuallyfromakettle. Theinstantthatweheardit,Holmessprangfromthebed,struckamatch,andlashedfuriouslywithhiscaneatthebell-pull.
"Youseeit,Watson?"heyelled."Youseeit?"
ButIsawnothing. AtthemomentwhenHolmesstruckthelightIheardalow,clearwhistle,butthesuddenglareflashingintomywearyeyesmadeitimpossibleformetotellwhatitwasatwhichmyfriendlashedsosavagely. Icould,however,seethathisfacewasdeadlypaleandfilledwithhorrorandloathing.
HehadceasedtostrikeandwasgazingupattheventilatorwhensuddenlytherebrokefromthesilenceofthenightthemosthorriblecrytowhichIhaveeverlistened. Itswelleduplouderandlouder,ahoarseyellofpainandfearandangerallmingledintheonedreadfulshriek.
