Собака Баскервіллів
Three Broken Threads
"Mygoodfellow,thisisaveryseriousbusiness,andyoumayfindyourselfinaprettybadpositionifyoutrytohideanythingfromme. Yousaythatyourfaretoldyouthathewasadetective?"
"Yes,hedid."
"Whendidhesaythis?"
"Whenheleftme."
"Didhesayanythingmore?"
"Hementionedhisname."
Holmescastaswiftglanceoftriumphatme. "Oh,hementionedhisname,didhe? Thatwasimprudent. Whatwasthenamethathementioned?"
"Hisname,"saidthecabman,"wasMr.SherlockHolmes."
NeverhaveIseenmyfriendmorecompletelytakenabackthanbythecabman’sreply. Foraninstanthesatinsilentamazement. Thenheburstintoaheartylaugh.
"Atouch,Watson—anundeniabletouch! "saidhe. "Ifeelafoilasquickandsuppleasmyown. Hegothomeuponmeveryprettilythattime. SohisnamewasSherlockHolmes,wasit?"
"Yes,sir,thatwasthegentleman’sname."
"Excellent! Tellmewhereyoupickedhimupandallthatoccurred."
"Hehailedmeathalf-pastnineinTrafalgarSquare. Hesaidthathewasadetective,andheofferedmetwoguineasifIwoulddoexactlywhathewantedalldayandasknoquestions.
