20 лучших повестей на английском / 20 Best Short Novels

�The mere sight of an official-looking person seals men’s lips. These youngsters, however, go everywhere and hear everything. They are as sharp as needles, too; all they want is organization.’

�Is it on this Brixton case that you are employing them?’ I asked.

�Yes; there is a point which I wish to ascertain. It is merely a matter of time. Hullo! we are going to hear some news now with a vengeance ! Here is Gregson coming down the road with beatitude written upon every feature of his face. Bound for us, I know.

There was a violent peal at the bell, and in a few seconds the fair-headed detective came up the stairs, three steps at a time, and burst into our sitting-room.

�My dear fellow,’ he cried, wringing Holmes’ unresponsive hand, �congratulate me! I have made the whole thing as clear as day.’

A shade of anxiety seemed to me to cross my companion’s expressive face.

�Do you mean that you are on the right track?’ he asked.

�The right track! Why, sir, we have the man under lock and key.

�And his name is?’

�Arthur Charpentier, sub-lieutenant in Her Majesty’s navy.’ cried Gregson pompously rubbing his fat hands and inflating his chest.

Sherlock Holmes gave a sigh of relief and relaxed into a smile.

�Take a seat, and try one of these cigars,’ he said. �We are anxious to know how you managed it. Will you have some whiskey and water?’

�I don’t mind if I do,’ the detective answered.

�You do me too much honour,’ said Holmes, gravely. �Let us hear how you arrived at this most gratifying result.’

The detective seated himself in the arm-chair, and puffed complacently at his cigar. Then suddenly he slapped his thigh in a paroxysm of amusement.

�The fun of it is,’ he cried, �that that fool Lestrade, who thinks himself so smart, has gone off upon the wrong track altogether. He is after the secretary Stangerson, who had no more to do with the crime than the babe unborn. I have no doubt that he has caught him by this time.’

The idea tickled Gregson so much that he laughed until he choked.

�And how did you get your clue?’

�Ah, I’ll tell you all about it.