Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           "Thatwilldo,Mr.Wilson. Ishallbehappytogiveyouanopinionuponthesubjectinthecourseofadayortwo. To-dayisSaturday,andIhopethatbyMondaywemaycometoaconclusion." 

           "Well,Watson,"saidHolmeswhenourvisitorhadleftus,"whatdoyoumakeofitall?" 

           "Imakenothingofit,"Iansweredfrankly. "Itisamostmysteriousbusiness." 

           "Asarule,"saidHolmes,"themorebizarreathingisthelessmysteriousitprovestobe. Itisyourcommonplace,featurelesscrimeswhicharereallypuzzling,justasacommonplacefaceisthemostdifficulttoidentify. ButImustbepromptoverthismatter." 

           "Whatareyougoingtodo,then?"Iasked. 

           "Tosmoke,"heanswered. "Itisquiteathreepipeproblem,andIbegthatyouwon’tspeaktomeforfiftyminutes." Hecurledhimselfupinhischair,withhisthinkneesdrawnuptohishawk-likenose,andtherehesatwithhiseyesclosedandhisblackclaypipethrustingoutlikethebillofsomestrangebird. Ihadcometotheconclusionthathehaddroppedasleep,andindeedwasnoddingmyself,whenhesuddenlysprangoutofhischairwiththegestureofamanwhohasmadeuphismindandputhispipedownuponthemantelpiece. 

           "SarasateplaysattheSt.James’sHallthisafternoon,"heremarked. "Whatdoyouthink,Watson? Couldyourpatientsspareyouforafewhours?" 

           "Ihavenothingtodoto-day. Mypracticeisneververyabsorbing."