20 лучших повестей на английском / 20 Best Short Novels

Of course, Doctor Watson, this is strictly between ourselves. The first difficulty which we had to contend with was the finding of this American’s antecedents. Some people would have waited until their advertisements were answered, or until parties came forward and volunteered information. That is not Tobias Gregson’s way of going to work. You remember the hat beside the dead man?’

�Yes,’ said Holmes; �by John Underwood and Sons, 129, Camberwell Road.’

Gregson looked quite crest-fallen.

�I had no idea that you noticed that,’ he said.

�No.’

�Ha!’ cried Gregson, in a relieved voice; �you should never neglect a chance, however small it may seem.’

�To a great mind, nothing is little,’ remarked Holmes, sententiously.

�Well, I went to Underwood, and asked him if he had sold a hat of that size and description. He looked over his books, and came on it at once. He had sent the hat to a Mr. Drebber, residing at Charpentier’s Boarding Establishment, Torquay Terrace.

�Smart – very smart!’ murmured Sherlock Holmes.

�I next called upon Madame Charpentier,’ continued the detective: �I found her very pale and distressed. Her daughter was in the room too – an uncommonly fine girl she is too; she was looking red about the eyes and her lips trembled as I spoke to her. That didn’t escape my notice. I began to smell a rat. You know the feeling, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, when you come upon the right scent – a kind of thrill in your nerves.

�The mother nodded. She didn’t seem able to get out a word. The daughter burst into tears. I felt more than ever that these people knew something of the matter.

�“At what o’clock did Mr. Drebber leave your house for the train?” I asked.

�“At eight o’clock,” she said, gulping in her throat to keep down her agitation.

�“And was that the last which you saw of him?”

�A terrible change came over the woman’s face as I asked the question. Her features turned perfectly livid. It was some seconds before she could get out the single word “Yes” – and when it did come it was in a husky, unnatural tone.