Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса

           "

           "Thatwouldgivemetime."

           "Then,ifyouarenottoosleepy,Iwillgiveyouasketchofwhathashappened,andofwhatremainstobedone."

           "Iwassleepybeforeyoucame.Iamquitewakefulnow."

           "Iwillcompressthestoryasfarasmaybedonewithoutomittinganythingvitaltothecase.Itisconceivablethatyoumayevenhavereadsomeaccountofthematter.ItisthesupposedmurderofColonelBarclay,oftheRoyalMunsters,atAldershot,whichIaminvestigating."

           "Ihaveheardnothingofit."

           "Ithasnotexcitedmuchattentionyet,exceptlocally.Thefactsareonlytwodaysold.Brieflytheyarethese:

           "TheRoyalMunstersis,asyouknow,oneofthemostfamousIrishregimentsintheBritishArmy.ItdidwondersbothintheCrimeaandtheMutiny,andhassincethattimedistinguisheditselfuponeverypossibleoccasion.ItwascommandeduptoMondaynightbyJamesBarclay,agallantveteran,whostartedasafullprivate,wasraisedtocommissionedrankforhisbraveryatthetimeoftheMutiny,andsolivedtocommandtheregimentinwhichhehadoncecarriedamusket.

           "ColonelBarclayhadmarriedatthetimewhenhewasasergeant,andhiswife,whosemaidennamewasMissNancyDevoy,wasthedaughterofaformercolour-sergeantinthesamecorps.Therewas,therefore,ascanbeimagined,somelittlesocialfrictionwhentheyoungcouple(fortheywerestillyoung)foundthemselvesintheirnewsurroundings.