Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
"FortwodaysaftermyarrivalattheCopperBeechesmylifewasveryquiet; onthethird,Mrs.Rucastlecamedownjustafterbreakfastandwhisperedsomethingtoherhusband.
"‘Oh,yes,’saidhe,turningtome,‘weareverymuchobligedtoyou,MissHunter,forfallinginwithourwhimssofarastocutyourhair. Iassureyouthatithasnotdetractedinthetiniestiotafromyourappearance. Weshallnowseehowtheelectric-bluedresswillbecomeyou. Youwillfinditlaidoutuponthebedinyourroom,andifyouwouldbesogoodastoputitonweshouldbothbeextremelyobliged.’
"ThedresswhichIfoundwaitingformewasofapeculiarshadeofblue. Itwasofexcellentmaterial,asortofbeige,butitboreunmistakablesignsofhavingbeenwornbefore. ItcouldnothavebeenabetterfitifIhadbeenmeasuredforit. BothMr.andMrs.Rucastleexpressedadelightatthelookofit,whichseemedquiteexaggeratedinitsvehemence. Theywerewaitingformeinthedrawing-room,whichisaverylargeroom,stretchingalongtheentirefrontofthehouse,withthreelongwindowsreachingdowntothefloor. Achairhadbeenplacedclosetothecentralwindow,withitsbackturnedtowardsit. InthisIwasaskedtosit,andthenMr.Rucastle,walkingupanddownontheothersideoftheroom,begantotellmeaseriesofthefunnieststoriesthatIhaveeverlistenedto. Youcannotimaginehowcomicalhewas,andIlaugheduntilIwasquiteweary. Mrs.Rucastle,however,whohasevidentlynosenseofhumour,neversomuchassmiled,butsatwithherhandsinherlap,andasad,anxiouslookuponherface. Afteranhourorso,Mr.Rucastlesuddenlyremarkedthatitwastimetocommencethedutiesoftheday,andthatImightchangemydressandgotolittleEdwardinthenursery.
"Twodayslaterthissameperformancewasgonethroughunderexactlysimilarcircumstances.
