Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Naval Treaty
"
WewerefortunateinfindingthatLordHoldhurstwasstillinhischambersinDowningStreet,andonHolmessendinginhiscardwewereinstantlyshownup.Thestatesmanreceiveduswiththatold-fashionedcourtesyforwhichheisremarkableandseatedusonthetwoluxuriantloungesoneithersideofthefireplace.Standingontherugbetweenus,withhisslight,tallfigure,hissharpfeatures,thoughtfulface,andcurlinghairprematurelytingedwithgray,heseemedtorepresentthatnottoocommontype,anoblemanwhoisintruthnoble
"Yournameisveryfamiliartome,Mr.Holmes,"saidhe,smiling."AndofcourseIcannotpretendtobeignorantoftheobjectofyourvisit.Therehasonlybeenoneoccurrenceintheseofficeswhichcouldcallforyourattention.Inwhoseinterestareyouacting,mayIask?"
"InthatofMr.PercyPhelps,"answeredHolmes
"Ah,myunfortunatenephew!Youcanunderstandthatourkinshipmakesitthemoreimpossibleformetoscreenhiminanyway.Ifearthattheincidentmusthaveaveryprejudicialeffectuponhiscareer."
"Butifthedocumentisfound?"
"Ah,that,ofcourse,wouldbedifferent."
"IhadoneortwoquestionswhichIwishedtoaskyou,LordHoldhurst."
"Ishallbehappytogiveyouanyinformationinmypower."
"Wasitinthisroomthatyougaveyourinstructionsastothecopyingofthedocument?"
"Itwas.