Приключения Шерлока Холмса
A Case of Identity
"Sometenortwelve,butnonewhichpresentanyfeatureofinterest. Theyareimportant,youunderstand,withoutbeinginteresting. Indeed,Ihavefoundthatitisusuallyinunimportantmattersthatthereisafieldfortheobservation,andforthequickanalysisofcauseandeffectwhichgivesthecharmtoaninvestigation. Thelargercrimesareapttobethesimpler,forthebiggerthecrimethemoreobvious,asarule,isthemotive. Inthesecases,saveforoneratherintricatematterwhichhasbeenreferredtomefromMarseilles,thereisnothingwhichpresentsanyfeaturesofinterest. Itispossible,however,thatImayhavesomethingbetterbeforeverymanyminutesareover,forthisisoneofmyclients,orIammuchmistaken."
Hehadrisenfromhischairandwasstandingbetweenthepartedblindsgazingdownintothedullneutral-tintedLondonstreet. Lookingoverhisshoulder,Isawthatonthepavementoppositetherestoodalargewomanwithaheavyfurboaroundherneck,andalargecurlingredfeatherinabroad-brimmedhatwhichwastiltedinacoquettishDuchessofDevonshirefashionoverherear. Fromunderthisgreatpanoplyshepeepedupinanervous,hesitatingfashionatourwindows,whileherbodyoscillatedbackwardandforward,andherfingersfidgetedwithherglovebuttons. Suddenly,withaplunge,asoftheswimmerwholeavesthebank,shehurriedacrosstheroad,andweheardthesharpclangofthebell.
"Ihaveseenthosesymptomsbefore,"saidHolmes,throwinghiscigaretteintothefire. "Oscillationuponthepavementalwaysmeansanaffairedecoeur. Shewouldlikeadvice,butisnotsurethatthematterisnottoodelicateforcommunication. Andyetevenherewemaydiscriminate. Whenawomanhasbeenseriouslywrongedbyamanshenolongeroscillates,andtheusualsymptomisabrokenbellwire.
