Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           "Seehere,sir! Seewhatmywifefoundinitscrop!" Heheldouthishandanddisplayeduponthecentreofthepalmabrilliantlyscintillatingbluestone,rathersmallerthanabeaninsize,butofsuchpurityandradiancethatittwinkledlikeanelectricpointinthedarkhollowofhishand. 

           SherlockHolmessatupwithawhistle. "ByJove,Peterson!"saidhe,"thisistreasuretroveindeed. Isupposeyouknowwhatyouhavegot?" 

           "Adiamond,sir? Apreciousstone. Itcutsintoglassasthoughitwereputty." 

           "It’smorethanapreciousstone.Itisthepreciousstone." 

           "NottheCountessofMorcar’sbluecarbuncle!"Iejaculated. 

           "Preciselyso. Ioughttoknowitssizeandshape,seeingthatIhavereadtheadvertisementaboutitinTheTimeseverydaylately. Itisabsolutelyunique,anditsvaluecanonlybeconjectured,buttherewardofferedof1000poundsiscertainlynotwithinatwentiethpartofthemarketprice." 

           "Athousandpounds! GreatLordofmercy!" Thecommissionaireplumpeddownintoachairandstaredfromonetotheotherofus. 

           "Thatisthereward,andIhavereasontoknowthattherearesentimentalconsiderationsinthebackgroundwhichwouldinducetheCountesstopartwithhalfherfortuneifshecouldbutrecoverthegem." 

           "Itwaslost,ifIrememberaright,attheHotelCosmopolitan,"Iremarked. 

           "Preciselyso,onDecember22d,justfivedaysago. JohnHorner,aplumber,wasaccusedofhavingabstracteditfromthelady’sjewel-case. TheevidenceagainsthimwassostrongthatthecasehasbeenreferredtotheAssizes. Ihavesomeaccountofthematterhere,Ibelieve."