Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
"Itookitupandexaminedit. Itwasofthesamepeculiartint,andthesamethickness. Butthentheimpossibilityofthethingobtrudeditselfuponme. Howcouldmyhairhavebeenlockedinthedrawer? WithtremblinghandsIundidmytrunk,turnedoutthecontents,anddrewfromthebottommyownhair. Ilaidthetwotressestogether,andIassureyouthattheywereidentical. Wasitnotextraordinary? PuzzleasIwould,Icouldmakenothingatallofwhatitmeant. Ireturnedthestrangehairtothedrawer,andIsaidnothingofthemattertotheRucastlesasIfeltthatIhadputmyselfinthewrongbyopeningadrawerwhichtheyhadlocked.
"Iamnaturallyobservant,asyoumayhaveremarked,Mr.Holmes,andIsoonhadaprettygoodplanofthewholehouseinmyhead. Therewasonewing,however,whichappearednottobeinhabitedatall. AdoorwhichfacedthatwhichledintothequartersoftheTollersopenedintothissuite,butitwasinvariablylocked. Oneday,however,asIascendedthestair,ImetMr.Rucastlecomingoutthroughthisdoor,hiskeysinhishand,andalookonhisfacewhichmadehimaverydifferentpersontotheround,jovialmantowhomIwasaccustomed. Hischeekswerered,hisbrowwasallcrinkledwithanger,andtheveinsstoodoutathistempleswithpassion. Helockedthedoorandhurriedpastmewithoutawordoralook.
"Thisarousedmycuriosity,sowhenIwentoutforawalkinthegroundswithmycharge,IstrolledroundtothesidefromwhichIcouldseethewindowsofthispartofthehouse. Therewerefouroftheminarow,threeofwhichweresimplydirty,whilethefourthwasshutteredup. Theywereevidentlyalldeserted. AsIstrolledupanddown,glancingatthemoccasionally,Mr.Rucastlecameouttome,lookingasmerryandjovialasever.
"‘Ah!’saidhe,‘youmustnotthinkmerudeifIpassedyouwithoutaword,mydearyounglady. Iwaspreoccupiedwithbusinessmatters.’
