Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
A Scandal in Bohemia
"AndI."
"Youwillexcusethismask,"continuedourstrangevisitor. "Theaugustpersonwhoemploysmewisheshisagenttobeunknowntoyou,andImayconfessatoncethatthetitlebywhichIhavejustcalledmyselfisnotexactlymyown."
"Iwasawareofit,"saidHolmesdryly.
"Thecircumstancesareofgreatdelicacy,andeveryprecautionhastobetakentoquenchwhatmightgrowtobeanimmensescandalandseriouslycompromiseoneofthereigningfamiliesofEurope. Tospeakplainly,thematterimplicatesthegreatHouseofOrmstein,hereditarykingsofBohemia."
"Iwasalsoawareofthat,"murmuredHolmes,settlinghimselfdowninhisarmchairandclosinghiseyes.
Ourvisitorglancedwithsomeapparentsurpriseatthelanguid,loungingfigureofthemanwhohadbeennodoubtdepictedtohimasthemostincisivereasonerandmostenergeticagentinEurope. Holmesslowlyreopenedhiseyesandlookedimpatientlyathisgiganticclient.
"IfyourMajestywouldcondescendtostateyourcase,"heremarked,"Ishouldbebetterabletoadviseyou."
Themansprangfromhischairandpacedupanddowntheroominuncontrollableagitation. Then,withagestureofdesperation,hetorethemaskfromhisfaceandhurleditupontheground. "Youareright,"hecried;"IamtheKing. WhyshouldIattempttoconcealit?"
