Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
A Case of Identity
Thenhetookdownfromtheracktheoldandoilyclaypipe,whichwastohimasacounsellor,and,havinglitit,heleanedbackinhischair,withthethickbluecloud-wreathsspinningupfromhim,andalookofinfinitelanguorinhisface.
"Quiteaninterestingstudy,thatmaiden,"heobserved. "Ifoundhermoreinterestingthanherlittleproblem,which,bytheway,isratheratriteone. Youwillfindparallelcases,ifyouconsultmyindex,inAndoverin’77,andtherewassomethingofthesortatTheHaguelastyear. Oldasistheidea,however,therewereoneortwodetailswhichwerenewtome. Butthemaidenherselfwasmostinstructive."
"Youappearedtoreadagooddealuponherwhichwasquiteinvisibletome,"Iremarked.
"Notinvisiblebutunnoticed,Watson. Youdidnotknowwheretolook,andsoyoumissedallthatwasimportant. Icanneverbringyoutorealizetheimportanceofsleeves,thesuggestivenessofthumb-nails,orthegreatissuesthatmayhangfromaboot-lace. Now,whatdidyougatherfromthatwoman’sappearance? Describeit."
"Well,shehadaslate-coloured,broad-brimmedstrawhat,withafeatherofabrickishred. Herjacketwasblack,withblackbeadssewnuponit,andafringeoflittleblackjetornaments. Herdresswasbrown,ratherdarkerthancoffeecolour,withalittlepurpleplushattheneckandsleeves. Herglovesweregrayishandwerewornthroughattherightforefinger. HerbootsIdidn’tobserve. Shehadsmallround,hanginggoldearrings,andageneralairofbeingfairlywell-to-doinavulgar,comfortable,easy-goingway."
SherlockHolmesclappedhishandssoftlytogetherandchuckled.
