Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
Itwasamagnificentspecimenofthejeweller’sart,andthethirty-sixstoneswerethefinestthatIhaveeverseen. Atonesideofthecoronetwasacrackededge,whereacornerholdingthreegemshadbeentornaway.
"Now,Mr.Holder,"saidHolmes,"hereisthecornerwhichcorrespondstothatwhichhasbeensounfortunatelylost. MightIbegthatyouwillbreakitoff."
Thebankerrecoiledinhorror."Ishouldnotdreamoftrying,"saidhe.
"ThenIwill." Holmessuddenlybenthisstrengthuponit,butwithoutresult. "Ifeelitgivealittle,"saidhe;"but,thoughIamexceptionallystronginthefingers,itwouldtakemeallmytimetobreakit. Anordinarymancouldnotdoit. Now,whatdoyouthinkwouldhappenifIdidbreakit,Mr.Holder? Therewouldbeanoiselikeapistolshot. Doyoutellmethatallthishappenedwithinafewyardsofyourbedandthatyouheardnothingofit?"
"Idonotknowwhattothink. Itisalldarktome."
"Butperhapsitmaygrowlighteraswego. Whatdoyouthink,MissHolder?"
"IconfessthatIstillsharemyuncle’sperplexity."
"Yoursonhadnoshoesorslippersonwhenyousawhim?"
"Hehadnothingonsaveonlyhistrousersandshirt."
"Thankyou. Wehavecertainlybeenfavouredwithextraordinaryluckduringthisinquiry,anditwillbeentirelyourownfaultifwedonotsucceedinclearingthematterup. Withyourpermission,Mr.Holder,Ishallnowcontinuemyinvestigationsoutside."
Hewentalone,athisownrequest,forheexplainedthatanyunnecessaryfootmarksmightmakehistaskmoredifficult.
