Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The “Gloria Scott”
"Andtheninaninstantthekeyoftheriddlewasinmyhands,andIsawthateverythirdword,beginningwiththefirst,wouldgiveamessagewhichmightwelldriveoldTrevortodespair.
"Itwasshortandterse,thewarning,asInowreadittomycompanion:
"‘Thegameisup.Hudsonhastoldall.Flyforyourlife.’
"VictorTrevorsankhisfaceintohisshakinghands.‘Itmustbethat,Isuppose,"saidhe.‘Thisisworsethandeath,foritmeansdisgraceaswell.Butwhatisthemeaningofthese"head-keepers"and"hen-pheasants"?’
"‘Itmeansnothingtothemessage,butitmightmeanagooddealtousifwehadnoothermeansofdiscoveringthesender.Youseethathehasbegunbywriting"The...game...is,"andsoon.Afterwardshehad,tofulfiltheprearrangedcipher,tofillinanytwowordsineachspace.Hewouldnaturallyusethefirstwordswhichcametohismind,andifthereweresomanywhichreferredtosportamongthem,youmaybetolerablysurethatheiseitheranardentshotorinterestedinbreeding.DoyouknowanythingofthisBeddoes?’
"‘Why,nowthatyoumentionit,"saidhe,‘Irememberthatmypoorfatherusedtohaveaninvitationfromhimtoshootoverhispreserveseveryautumn.’
"‘Thenitisundoubtedlyfromhimthatthenotecomes,"saidI.
