Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor
Shehadgoneoffwithaman,andthemanwaseitheraloverorwasaprevioushusband—thechancesbeinginfavourofthelatter."
"Andhowintheworlddidyoufindthem?"
"Itmighthavebeendifficult,butfriendLestradeheldinformationinhishandsthevalueofwhichhedidnothimselfknow. Theinitialswere,ofcourse,ofthehighestimportance,butmorevaluablestillwasittoknowthatwithinaweekhehadsettledhisbillatoneofthemostselectLondonhotels."
"Howdidyoudeducetheselect?"
"Bytheselectprices. Eightshillingsforabedandeightpenceforaglassofsherrypointedtooneofthemostexpensivehotels. TherearenotmanyinLondonwhichchargeatthatrate. InthesecondonewhichIvisitedinNorthumberlandAvenue,IlearnedbyaninspectionofthebookthatFrancisH.Moulton,anAmericangentleman,hadleftonlythedaybefore,andonlookingovertheentriesagainsthim,IcameupontheveryitemswhichIhadseenintheduplicatebill. Hislettersweretobeforwardedto226GordonSquare; sothitherItravelled,andbeingfortunateenoughtofindthelovingcoupleathome,IventuredtogivethemsomepaternaladviceandtopointouttothemthatitwouldbebetterineverywaythattheyshouldmaketheirpositionalittleclearerbothtothegeneralpublicandtoLordSt.Simoninparticular. Iinvitedthemtomeethimhere,and,asyousee,Imadehimkeeptheappointment."
"Butwithnoverygoodresult,"Iremarked. "Hisconductwascertainlynotverygracious."
"Ah,Watson,"saidHolmes,smiling,"perhapsyouwouldnotbeverygraciouseither,if,afterallthetroubleofwooingandwedding,youfoundyourselfdeprivedinaninstantofwifeandoffortune.
