Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Five Orange Pips
"Thisistheenvelope,"hecontinued. "ThepostmarkisLondon—easterndivision. Withinaretheverywordswhichwereuponmyfather’slastmessage:‘K.K.K.’;andthen‘Putthepapersonthesundial.’"
"Whathaveyoudone?"askedHolmes.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Totellthetruth"—hesankhisfaceintohisthin,whitehands—"Ihavefelthelpless. Ihavefeltlikeoneofthosepoorrabbitswhenthesnakeiswrithingtowardsit. Iseemtobeinthegraspofsomeresistless,inexorableevil,whichnoforesightandnoprecautionscanguardagainst."
"Tut!tut!"criedSherlockHolmes. "Youmustact,man,oryouarelost. Nothingbutenergycansaveyou. Thisisnotimefordespair."
"Ihaveseenthepolice."
"Ah!"
"Buttheylistenedtomystorywithasmile. Iamconvincedthattheinspectorhasformedtheopinionthatthelettersareallpracticaljokes,andthatthedeathsofmyrelationswerereallyaccidents,asthejurystated,andwerenottobeconnectedwiththewarnings."
Holmesshookhisclenchedhandsintheair. "Incredibleimbecility!"hecried.
"Theyhave,however,allowedmeapoliceman,whomayremaininthehousewithme."
"Hashecomewithyouto-night?"