Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
"SomuchforMr.HenryBaker,"saidHolmeswhenhehadclosedthedoorbehindhim. "Itisquitecertainthatheknowsnothingwhateveraboutthematter. Areyouhungry,Watson?"
"Notparticularly."
"ThenIsuggestthatweturnourdinnerintoasupperandfollowupthiscluewhileitisstillhot."
"Byallmeans."
Itwasabitternight,sowedrewonourulstersandwrappedcravatsaboutourthroats. Outside,thestarswereshiningcoldlyinacloudlesssky,andthebreathofthepassers-byblewoutintosmokelikesomanypistolshots. Ourfootfallsrangoutcrisplyandloudlyasweswungthroughthedoctors’quarter,WimpoleStreet,HarleyStreet,andsothroughWigmoreStreetintoOxfordStreet. InaquarterofanhourwewereinBloomsburyattheAlphaInn,whichisasmallpublic-houseatthecornerofoneofthestreetswhichrunsdownintoHolborn. Holmespushedopenthedooroftheprivatebarandorderedtwoglassesofbeerfromtheruddy-faced,white-apronedlandlord.
"Yourbeershouldbeexcellentifitisasgoodasyourgeese,"saidhe.
"Mygeese!"Themanseemedsurprised.
"Yes.IwasspeakingonlyhalfanhouragotoMr.HenryBaker,whowasamemberofyourgooseclub."
"Ah!yes,Isee.Butyousee,sir,them’snotourgeese."
"Indeed!Whose,then?"
"Well,IgotthetwodozenfromasalesmaninCoventGarden."
