Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
A Case of Identity
"Itwasmostsuggestive,"saidHolmes. "Ithaslongbeenanaxiomofminethatthelittlethingsareinfinitelythemostimportant. CanyourememberanyotherlittlethingsaboutMr.HosmerAngel?"
"Hewasaveryshyman,Mr.Holmes. Hewouldratherwalkwithmeintheeveningthaninthedaylight,forhesaidthathehatedtobeconspicuous. Veryretiringandgentlemanlyhewas. Evenhisvoicewasgentle. He’dhadthequinsyandswollenglandswhenhewasyoung,hetoldme,andithadlefthimwithaweakthroat,andahesitating,whisperingfashionofspeech. Hewasalwayswelldressed,veryneatandplain,buthiseyeswereweak,justasmineare,andheworetintedglassesagainsttheglare."
"Well,andwhathappenedwhenMr.Windibank,yourstepfather,returnedtoFrance?"
"Mr.HosmerAngelcametothehouseagainandproposedthatweshouldmarrybeforefathercameback. Hewasindreadfulearnestandmademeswear,withmyhandsontheTestament,thatwhateverhappenedIwouldalwaysbetruetohim. Mothersaidhewasquiterighttomakemeswear,andthatitwasasignofhispassion. MotherwasallinhisfavourfromthefirstandwasevenfonderofhimthanIwas. Then,whentheytalkedofmarryingwithintheweek,Ibegantoaskaboutfather;buttheybothsaidnevertomindaboutfather,butjusttotellhimafterwards,andmothersaidshewouldmakeitallrightwithhim. Ididn’tquitelikethat,Mr.Holmes. ItseemedfunnythatIshouldaskhisleave,ashewasonlyafewyearsolderthanme;butIdidn’twanttodoanythingonthesly,soIwrotetofatheratBordeaux,wherethecompanyhasitsFrenchoffices,butthelettercamebacktomeontheverymorningofthewedding."
"Itmissedhim,then?"
