Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           "We’rehuntingincouplesagain,Doctor,yousee,"saidJonesinhisconsequentialway. "Ourfriendhereisawonderfulmanforstartingachase. Allhewantsisanolddogtohelphimtodotherunningdown." 

           "Ihopeawildgoosemaynotprovetobetheendofourchase,"observedMr.Merryweathergloomily. 

           "YoumayplaceconsiderableconfidenceinMr.Holmes,sir,"saidthepoliceagentloftily. "Hehashisownlittlemethods,whichare,ifhewon’tmindmysayingso,justalittletootheoreticalandfantastic,buthehasthemakingsofadetectiveinhim. Itisnottoomuchtosaythatonceortwice,asinthatbusinessoftheSholtomurderandtheAgratreasure,hehasbeenmorenearlycorrectthantheofficialforce." 

           "Oh,ifyousayso,Mr.Jones,itisallright,"saidthestrangerwithdeference. "Still,IconfessthatImissmyrubber. ItisthefirstSaturdaynightforseven-and-twentyyearsthatIhavenothadmyrubber." 

           "Ithinkyouwillfind,"saidSherlockHolmes,"thatyouwillplayforahigherstaketo-nightthanyouhaveeverdoneyet,andthattheplaywillbemoreexciting. Foryou,Mr.Merryweather,thestakewillbesome30,000pounds; andforyou,Jones,itwillbethemanuponwhomyouwishtolayyourhands." 

           "JohnClay,themurderer,thief,smasher,andforger. He’sayoungman,Mr.Merryweather,butheisattheheadofhisprofession,andIwouldratherhavemybraceletsonhimthanonanycriminalinLondon. He’saremarkableman,isyoungJohnClay. Hisgrandfatherwasaroyalduke,andhehimselfhasbeentoEtonandOxford.