Лучшие расследования Шерлока Холмса / The Best of Sherlock Holmes

“The paper was made in Bohemia,” I said.

“Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you note the peculiar construction of the sentence – ’This account of you we have from all quarters received.’ A Frenchman or Russian could not have written that. It is the German who is so uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper, and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts.

”

As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses’ hoofs and grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the bell. Holmes whistled.

“A pair, by the sound,” said he. “Yes,” he continued, glancing out of the window. “A nice little brougham[6 - brougham – a closed horse-drawn four-wheeled carriage with the driver’s seat outside in the front. It was named after Henry Peter Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux who is believed to invent it.

] and a pair of beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas a piece. There’s money in this case, Watson, if there is nothing else.”

“I think that I had better go, Holmes.”

“Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Boswell.[7 - Boswell, James (1740–1795) – a biographer of famous English writer and lexicographer Samuel Johnson. Boswell’s “Life of Samuel Johnson” is claimed to be the greatest life story ever written in English.

The name of Boswell has become a household name for a very scrupulous diarist.] And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity to miss it.”

“But your client –”

“Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best attention.”

AВ slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and in the passage, paused immediately outside the door.

Then there was aВ loud and authoritative tap.

“Come in!” said Holmes.

A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of Astrakhan[8 - Astrakhan – a karakul lambskin. King’s clothes looked exotic and vulgar in Victorian Britain.