Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
A Case of Identity
"Ofwhat?"
"Mydearfellow,isitpossibleyoudonotseehowstronglyitbearsuponthecase?"
"IcannotsaythatIdounlessitwerethathewishedtobeabletodenyhissignatureifanactionforbreachofpromisewereinstituted."
"No,thatwasnotthepoint. However,Ishallwritetwoletters,whichshouldsettlethematter. OneistoafirmintheCity,theotheristotheyounglady’sstepfather,Mr.Windibank,askinghimwhetherhecouldmeetushereatsixo’clocktomorrowevening. Itisjustaswellthatweshoulddobusinesswiththemalerelatives. Andnow,Doctor,wecandonothinguntiltheanswerstothoseletterscome,sowemayputourlittleproblemupontheshelffortheinterim."
Ihadhadsomanyreasonstobelieveinmyfriend’ssubtlepowersofreasoningandextraordinaryenergyinactionthatIfeltthathemusthavesomesolidgroundsfortheassuredandeasydemeanourwithwhichhetreatedthesingularmysterywhichhehadbeencalledupontofathom. OnceonlyhadIknownhimtofail,inthecaseoftheKingofBohemiaandoftheIreneAdlerphotograph; butwhenIlookedbacktotheweirdbusinessof‘TheSignofFour’,andtheextraordinarycircumstancesconnectedwith‘AStudyinScarlet’,Ifeltthatitwouldbeastrangetangleindeedwhichhecouldnotunravel.
Ilefthimthen,stillpuffingathisblackclaypipe,withtheconvictionthatwhenIcameagainonthenexteveningIwouldfindthatheheldinhishandsalltheclueswhichwouldleaduptotheidentityofthedisappearingbridegroomofMissMarySutherland.
