Пригоди Шерлока Холмса

           "‘Don’tbefrightened,’saidmyemployer,laughingatthestartwhichIhadgiven. ‘It’sonlyCarlo,mymastiff. Icallhimmine,butreallyoldToller,mygroom,istheonlymanwhocandoanythingwithhim.Wefeedhimonceaday,andnottoomuchthen,sothatheisalwaysaskeenasmustard.Tollerletshimlooseeverynight,andGodhelpthetrespasserwhomhelayshisfangsupon. Forgoodness’sakedon’tyoueveronanypretextsetyourfootoverthethresholdatnight,forit’sasmuchasyourlifeisworth.’ 

           "Thewarningwasnoidleone,fortwonightslaterIhappenedtolookoutofmybedroomwindowabouttwoo’clockinthemorning. Itwasabeautifulmoonlightnight,andthelawninfrontofthehousewassilveredoverandalmostasbrightasday. Iwasstanding,raptinthepeacefulbeautyofthescene,whenIwasawarethatsomethingwasmovingundertheshadowofthecopperbeeches. AsitemergedintothemoonshineIsawwhatitwas. Itwasagiantdog,aslargeasacalf,tawnytinted,withhangingjowl,blackmuzzle,andhugeprojectingbones. Itwalkedslowlyacrossthelawnandvanishedintotheshadowupontheotherside. ThatdreadfulsentinelsentachilltomyheartwhichIdonotthinkthatanyburglarcouldhavedone. 

           "AndnowIhaveaverystrangeexperiencetotellyou. Ihad,asyouknow,cutoffmyhairinLondon,andIhadplaceditinagreatcoilatthebottomofmytrunk. Oneevening,afterthechildwasinbed,Ibegantoamusemyselfbyexaminingthefurnitureofmyroomandbyrearrangingmyownlittlethings. Therewasanoldchestofdrawersintheroom,thetwoupperonesemptyandopen,theloweronelocked. Ihadfilledthefirsttwowithmylinen,andasIhadstillmuchtopackawayIwasnaturallyannoyedatnothavingtheuseofthethirddrawer. Itstruckmethatitmighthavebeenfastenedbyamereoversight,soItookoutmybunchofkeysandtriedtoopenit. Theveryfirstkeyfittedtoperfection,andIdrewthedraweropen. Therewasonlyonethinginit,butIamsurethatyouwouldneverguesswhatitwas. Itwasmycoilofhair.