Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
Herlightgrayeyeswanderedcontinuallyfromonetotheother,notingeverylittlewantandforestallingitifpossible. Hewaskindtoheralsoinhisbluff,boisterousfashion,andonthewholetheyseemedtobeahappycouple. Andyetshehadsomesecretsorrow,thiswoman. Shewouldoftenbelostindeepthought,withthesaddestlookuponherface. MorethanonceIhavesurprisedherintears. Ihavethoughtsometimesthatitwasthedispositionofherchildwhichweigheduponhermind,forIhavenevermetsoutterlyspoiledandsoill-naturedalittlecreature. Heissmallforhisage,withaheadwhichisquitedisproportionatelylarge. Hiswholelifeappearstobespentinanalternationbetweensavagefitsofpassionandgloomyintervalsofsulking. Givingpaintoanycreatureweakerthanhimselfseemstobehisoneideaofamusement,andheshowsquiteremarkabletalentinplanningthecaptureofmice,littlebirds,andinsects. ButIwouldrathernottalkaboutthecreature,Mr.Holmes,and,indeed,hehaslittletodowithmystory."
"Iamgladofalldetails,"remarkedmyfriend,"whethertheyseemtoyoutoberelevantornot."
"Ishalltrynottomissanythingofimportance. Theoneunpleasantthingaboutthehouse,whichstruckmeatonce,wastheappearanceandconductoftheservants. Thereareonlytwo,amanandhiswife. Toller,forthatishisname,isarough,uncouthman,withgrizzledhairandwhiskers,andaperpetualsmellofdrink. TwicesinceIhavebeenwiththemhehasbeenquitedrunk,andyetMr.Rucastleseemedtotakenonoticeofit. Hiswifeisaverytallandstrongwomanwithasourface,assilentasMrs.Rucastleandmuchlessamiable. Theyareamostunpleasantcouple,butfortunatelyIspendmostofmytimeinthenurseryandmyownroom,whicharenexttoeachotherinonecornerofthebuilding.
