Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist
Good-bye,andItrustthatweshallhavenothingbutgoodnewsfromyou.”
“ItispartofthesettledorderofNaturethatsuchagirlshouldhavefollowers,”saidHolmes,hepulledathismeditativepipe,“butforchoicenotonbicyclesinlonelycountryroads.Somesecretivelover,beyondalldoubt.Buttherearecuriousandsuggestivedetailsaboutthecase,Watson.”
“Thatheshouldappearonlyatthatpoint?”
“Exactly.OurfirsteffortmustbetofindwhoarethetenantsofCharlingtonHall.Then,again,howabouttheconnectionbetweenCarruthersandWoodley,sincetheyappeartobemenofsuchadifferenttype?HowcametheybothtobesokeenuponlookingupRalphSmith’srelations?Onemorepoint.Whatsortofaménageisitwhichpaysdoublethemarketpriceforagovernessbutdoesnotkeepahorse,althoughsixmilesfromthestation?Odd,Watson—veryodd!”
“Youwillgodown?”
“No,mydearfellow,youwillgodown.Thismaybesometriflingintrigue,andIcannotbreakmyotherimportantresearchforthesakeofit.OnMondayyouwillarriveearlyatFarnham;youwillconcealyourselfnearCharlingtonHeath;youwillobservethesefactsforyourself,andactasyourownjudgmentadvises.Then,havinginquiredastotheoccupantsoftheHall,youwillcomebacktomeandreport.Andnow,Watson,notanotherwordofthematteruntilwehaveafewsolidstepping-stonesonwhichwemayhopetogetacrosstooursolution.”
WehadascertainedfromtheladythatshewentdownupontheMondaybythetrainwhichleavesWaterlooat9:50,soIstartedearlyandcaughtthe9:13.
