Текст книги "Приключения Шерлока Холмса / The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (сборник)"

Exercises

1. Answer the questions:

1. Why couldn’t Helen sleep that night?

2. What sounds did Helen Stoner hear that night?

3. What did Julia look like when she came into the corridor?

4. How did Julia die?

5. What did Helen think Julia’s last words meant?

6. What did the police investigation show? Was it careful?

7. What were Helen’s plans for the near future?

8. Why was she terrified?

9. What was Sherlock Holmes going to do?

10. Why was Sherlock Holmes interested in Dr. Roylott’s plans for that day?

Think and say

1. Did Dr. Roylott love his stepdaughters?

2. Why was the police investigation without any results?

2. Find the following phrases in the text and reproduce situations from the text with them. Give Russian equivalents.

1. to be in pain

2. to come to a conclusion

3. (to find) the cause of death

4. to die of smth

5. to move to another place / into another room

3. Paraphrase the underlined parts of the sentences so as to use the phrases above.

1. We saw that the man was suffering terribly, but all we could do was to call an ambulance.

2. Sherlock Holmes decided that it was a very deep business.

3. Her grandmother got pneumonia and died.

4. The police examined the dead man but couldn’t say why he died.

5. I was surprised to hear that Simon had gone to live in another flat. He always said it was a very good flat.

6. The police made an absolutely wrong decision as to why the man died because they didn’t have enough information.

7. Julia Stoner could not talk because she was suffering from pain.

4. Complete the sentences with the phrases above in the correct form.

1. In old days when a patient… the doctor gave him some alcohol to drink.

2. In the 19th century thousands of people all over Europe… tuberculosis.

3. Helen Stoner was afraid… the room where her sister had died.

4. If you want to know somebody’s…, you have to see the death certificate.

5. After a long discussion the doctors… that the patient didn’t need an operation.

6. If you…, take the pill.

7. Don’t worry, people don’t… such temperature.

IV

“And what do you think of it all, Watson?” asked Sherlock Holmes after Miss Stoner left the room.

“It seems to me to be a most dark and gloomy business.”

“Dark enough and gloomy enough.”

“If the lady is correct when she said that no one could get into the room from the outside, then there is no doubt that her sister was alone when she met her end.”

“What about these whistles, and the very strange words of the dying woman?”

“I have no idea.”

“Whistles at night, a band of gypsies in the park, the fact that the doctor has an interest in preventing his stepdaughter’s marriage, the dying woman’s words, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner heard a metallic sound… Probably it was caused by the gypsies’ attempt to force the window.”

“But what, then, did the gypsies do?”

“I cannot imagine.”

“That is why we are going to Stoke Moran today. I want to see whether we can explain all this. But what in the name of the devil![15]15
  But what in the name of the devil! – Какого черта?!


[Закрыть]”

Our door suddenly opened, and a very big man was in the doorway. So tall was he that his hat reached the doorway. A large face, marked with every evil passion[16]16
  marked with every evil passion – несущее на себе следы всех пороков


[Закрыть], was turned from one to the other of us.

“Which of you is Holmes?” asked the man.

“This is my name, sir,” said my companion in a low voice.

“I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran.”

“Ah, Doctor,” said Holmes. “Please take your seat.”

“I will do nothing of the kind[17]17
  I will do nothing of the kind – И не подумаю


[Закрыть]. My stepdaughter has been here. I have followed her. What has she said to you?”

“It is a little cold for the time of the year,” said Holmes.

“Ha! You put me off, do you?” said our new visitor. “I know you, you scoundrel! I have heard of you before.”

My friend smiled.

“Your words are most pleasant,” said he. “When you go out close the door, for the open door makes the room cold.”

“I will go when I have said what I want. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I followed her! I am a dangerous man! See here.”

He took the poker, and bent it with his very strong hands.

“Keep yourself out of my grip,” he said, threw the poker, and went out of the room.

“He seems a very friendly person,” said Holmes, laughing. “I am not so big, but my grip is as strong as his own.” He took the poker and straightened it out again.

“Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk down to Doctors’ Commons, where I hope to get some data which may help us in this matter.”

It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned home. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, covered with notes.

“I have seen the will of Miss Stoner’s mother,” said he. “The income is now not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can have an income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is clear, therefore, that if both girls had married, our pleasant visitor would have had very little left, even one marriage would take a lot of money from him. He has the strongest motives for preventing his stepdaughters’ marriage. And now, Watson, this is very serious and we must hurry, as the old man knows of our interest in his affairs; so if you are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. And remember to take your revolver with you. It is a good argument with gentlemen who can bend pokers.”

At Waterloo we took a train for Leatherhead, the station nearest to Stoke Moran, where we got into a cab and drove for four or five miles to our client’s house. It was a perfect day, with a bright sun and a few clouds in the sky. The trees were just throwing out their first green leaves, and the air was full of the pleasant smell. To me there was a strange contrast between the beautiful spring day and the tragic event we had arrived to investigate. My companion sat in the cab, his hat pulled down over his eyes, lost in the deepest thought[18]18
  his hat pulled down over his eyes, lost in the deepest thought – надвинув шляпу на глаза и погрузившись в глубокое раздумье


[Закрыть]. Suddenly, however, he pointed to the left.

“Look there!” said he.

I saw a park with a very old house in it.

“Stoke Moran?” said he.

“Yes, sir, that is the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott,” answered the driver.

“There’s the village,” said the driver, pointing to some houses to the left; “but if you want to get to the house, you’ll find a road over the fields. There it is, where the lady is walking.”

“And the lady, I believe, is Miss Stoner,” said Holmes.

We got off and the cab drove back to Leatherhead.

Exercises

1. Answer the questions:

1. Did Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson come to any conclusion about the case?

2. Who suddenly came into the room?

3. What did Dr. Roylott look like?

4. How did he learn about Miss Stoner’s visit to Sherlock Holmes?

5. Why did Dr. Roylott come to Sherlock Holmes?

6. What did Sherlock Holmes find out about Dr. Roylott’s financial position?

7. How did Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson reach Stoke Moran?

Think and say

1. How did Sherlock Holmes’ and Dr. Roylott’s behaviour characterize them?

2. Why did Sherlock Holmes think that they had to hurry?

2. Find the following phrases in the text and reproduce situations from the text with them. Give Russian equivalents.

1. from the outside

ant. from the inside

2. there is no doubt (about smth / that…)

3. in a low voice

4. to follow smb

3. Paraphrase the underlined parts of the sentences so as to use the phrases above.

1. The actors spoke very quietly and we couldn’t hear anything.

2. When Steven arrived home he found the house locked by somebody who was in it. Steven rang the bell and knocked on the door but without any result.

3. Alex was a private detective and very often his job was to watch people and write reports about their actions for his clients.

4. After the doctor examined the dead man, the cause of his death was quite clear.

5. We are absolutely sure that the window was broken by somebody who was not in the house.

6. The cat watched every movement of the mouse.

7. I am sure the police are after us.

4. Complete the sentences with the phrases above in the correct form.

1. Please speak…, the children are asleep.

2… he is seriously ill. He is very pale. He looks as if he is in pain.

3. Sue and Sam tried… the unknown woman, but her car was much faster than theirs, and they soon lost her.

4. Sherlock Holmes came to the conclusion that no one could get into Julia’s room…

5. He said it in such… that nobody understood him.

6. A crowd gathered around a house on fire. They heard cries…, but no one went into the fire.

7. If anyone can do the work…, it’s him. Let him be responsible for it.

V

Our client had hurried forward to meet us with joy. “I have been waiting for you,” she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. “Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is not likely that he will be back before evening.”

“We have had the pleasure of making the doctor’s acquaintance[19]19
  We have had the pleasure of making the doctor’s acquaintance – Мы имели счастье познакомиться с доктором


[Закрыть],” said Holmes, and in a few words he told her what had occurred. Miss Stoner turned white as she listened.

“Good heavens!”[20]20
  Good heavens! – Боже мой!


[Закрыть] she cried, “he has followed me, then.”

“So it seems.”

“What will he say when he returns?”

“You must lock yourself up from him to-night. If he does anything to you, we shall take you away to your aunt. Now, you must take us at once to the rooms which we have come to examine.”

The building was gray. Most part of it was a ruin. Holmes examined with great attention the outsides of the windows.

“Is this the window of the room in which you used to sleep[21]21
  in which you used to sleep – в которой вы раньше спали


[Закрыть], the central one of your sister’s, and the next of Dr. Roylott’s room?”

“Yes. But I am now sleeping in the middle room.”

“There are some repairs, as I understand. By the way, I cannot see any very pressing need for repairs in this part of the house.”

“You are right. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from my room.”

“Ah! that is interesting. These three rooms open into a corridor. There are windows in it, of course?”

“Yes, but very small ones. Too small for anyone to get in.”

“As you both locked your doors at night, no one could get into your rooms from that side. Now, go into your room and shut your window.”

Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination, attempted in every way to force the window open, but without any result. “Hum!” said he, “No one could get into the room from here. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon the matter.”

We went to the corridor from which the three bedrooms opened. We passed at once to the second room, in which Miss Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met her end. It was a little room, with a low ceiling and a big fireplace, like in many old country-houses. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat silent, while his eyes travelled round and round the room.

“Where does that bell go to?” he asked at last, pointing to a bell-rope which hung down beside the bed.

“It goes to the housekeeper’s room.”

“It looks newer than the other things.”

“Yes, it was only put there two years ago.”

“Your sister asked for it?”

“No, she never used it. We always got what we wanted ourselves.”

“It seemed unnecessary to put a bell-rope there. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I examine this floor.” He examined carefully the floor with his lens in his hand, then he did the same with the walls. Finally he walked over to the bed and spent some time looking at it and at the wall. Finally he took the bell-rope in his hand and pulled it.

“It won’t ring[22]22
  It won’t ring – Он не звонит


[Закрыть],” said he. “It is not connected to anything. This is very interesting. You can see now that it is fastened above a little opening for the ventilator.”

“How very strange! I never noticed that before.”

“Very strange!” answered Holmes, pulling at the rope. “There are one or two very unusual things about this room. For example, the ventilator opens into another room, when it might have opened on the outside![23]23
  the ventilator opens into another room, when it might have opened on the outside! – вентилятор сообщается с соседней комнатой, в то время, когда, он мог бы забирать воздух снаружи!


[Закрыть]”

“That is also quite modern,” said the lady.

“Was it done about the same time as the bell-rope?” asked Holmes.

“Yes, there were several little changes done at that time.”

“They seem to be very interesting – bells that do not ring and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now continue our investigation in the next room.”

Dr. Grimesby Roylott’s room was larger than that of his stepdaughter. A camp-bed, a small shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an armchair beside the bed, a chair against the wall, a round table, and a large safe were the principal things in the room. Holmes walked slowly round and examined all of them with interest.

“What’s in here?” he asked, pointing to the safe.

“My stepfather’s business papers.”

“Oh! you have seen inside, then?”

“Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of papers.”

“There isn’t a cat in it, for example?”

“No. What a strange idea!”

“Well, look at this!” He took up a small saucer of milk which stood on the top of it.

“No; we don’t keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon.”

“Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is a big cat, and yet a saucer of milk will not satisfy its wants. There is one thing which I should like to see for myself.” He bent over the chair and examined it with the greatest attention.

“Thank you. That is quite clear,” said he, putting his lens in his pocket. “Hello! Here is something interesting!”

He pointed to a small dog lash that hung on one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was tied into a loop.

“What do you think of that, Watson?”

“It’s a common lash. But I don’t know why it is tied.”

“That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, it’s a wicked world, and when a clever man turns his brains to crime[24]24
  turns his brains to crime – использует свой ум в преступных целях


[Закрыть] it is the worst of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and with your permission we shall go outside.”

I had never seen my friend’s face so gloomy.

Exercises

1. Answer the questions:

1. Who met Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson on the road leading to Stoke Moran?

2. What did the house look like?

3. What did Sherlock Holmes and Miss Stoner think about the repairs in the house?

4. Why did Sherlock Holmes examine the window of Miss Stoner’s room? What did he find?

5. What did Miss Stoner’s room look like?

6. What did Sherlock Holmes find out about the bell and the ventilator in the room?

7. What was Dr. Roylott’s room like?

8. What seemed unusual to Sherlock Holmes in Dr. Roylott’s room?

9. What did Sherlock Holmes say after he examined Dr. Roylott’s room?

Think and say

1. Why was Miss Stoner frightened when she learned of Dr. Roylott’s visit to Sherlock Holmes?

2. What does the look of the house and the rooms tell you about the people who lived in Stoke Moran?

2. Find the following words and phrases in the text and reproduce situations from the text with them. Give Russian equivalents.

1. an excuse to do smth

2. to throw light on / upon smth

3. crime

to commit a crime

3. Paraphrase the underlined parts of the sentences so as to use the phrases above and from the previous parts.

1. The French window led to a verandah.

2. Dr. Roylott started repairs to explain why his stepdaughter should move to another room.

3. The death certificate said that it was a heart attack that caused the death but the family didn’t believe it and asked the detective to look into it.

4. His mother’s illness was only something he mentioned to leave the party early. It was clear from the beginning he didn’t like it there.

5. A detective has sometimes to become the friend of people to get information he needs.

6. When Bob was on the way to the birthday party, he had a sudden idea that he didn’t have a birthday present.

7. Many years ago, when he was a young man, Dan’s uncle broke the law, but his family can’t forgive him even now.

4. Complete the sentences with the words and phrases above and from the previous parts in the correct form.

1. A few strange deaths… in the town before the police started investigation.

2. Sherlock Holmes was able… even the darkest and tragic cases.

3. Alice’s mother always used the girl’s poor health as… not to let the girl go out with her friends.

4. Tom didn’t want… his cousin to a discotheque because he didn’t… dancing. He could even say he hated dancing.

5. Has it ever… to you that your mum needs your help in housework?

6. Most people think it is not polite… other people without a telephone call before it.

7. The book… unknown facts of the great scientist’s life.

8. If you are interested in… books, go over to those shelves. We have all kinds of books – classical detective stories by Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, hard-boiled detective novels by Raymond Chandler and others, modern police novels.

VI

“It is very important, Miss Stoner,” said he, as we have already left the house and were standing in the park, “that you should absolutely follow my advice in every detail.”

“I shall certainly do so. I am in your hands.”

“In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in your room.”

Both Miss Stoner and I looked at him in surprise.

“Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that there is a hotel in the village over there?”

“Yes, the Crown.”

“Very good. Your windows can be seen from there?”

“Certainly.”

“You must go to your room, saying you have a headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when he goes to his room, you must open your window, and put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then go quietly into the room where you slept before. I have no doubt that you can sleep there for one night.”

“Oh, yes, easily. But what will you do?”

“We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate the cause of this noise which you heard.”

“I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already come to some conclusion,” said Miss Stoner.

“Perhaps I have.”

“Then, tell me what was the cause of my sister’s death.”

“I should like to have clearer evidence before I speak.”

“But you can tell me whether my own idea is correct, and if she died of fear.”

“No, I do not think so. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you, for Dr. Roylott must not see us here. Good-bye, and if you do what I have told you, nothing will threaten you.”

Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in getting a room at the Crown. It was on the upper floor, and from our window we could see Stoke Moran. In the evening we saw Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, and a few minutes later we saw a light among the trees as the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms.

“Do you know, Watson,” said Holmes as we sat together in our hotel room, “I have really some doubts about taking you to-night. It is certainly dangerous.”

“Can I be of help to you?[25]25
  Can I be of help to you? – Я смогу вам помочь?


[Закрыть]”

“Oh, yes.”

“Then I shall certainly come.”

“It is very kind of you.”

“You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms than I have.”

“No. I imagine that you saw all that I did.”

“I saw nothing unusual except the bell-rope, but why it is important I cannot imagine.”

“You saw the ventilator, too?”

“Yes, but I do not think that it is such an unusual thing to have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that no one could pass through it.”

“I knew that we should find a ventilator even before we came to Stoke Moran.”

“My dear Holmes!”

“Oh, yes, I did. You remember Miss Stoner said that her sister could smell Dr. Roylott’s cigar. Now, of course that meant that there was an opening between the two rooms.”

“But it is so small!”

“Well, the dates are strange. A ventilator is made, a bell-rope is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the bed dies. Does that not strike you?”

“I cannot see any connection.”

“Did you notice anything very unusual about that bed?”

“No.”

“It was fastened to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened like that before?”

“Never.”

“The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same position to the ventilator and to the bell-rope – or so we may call it, for it was clearly never meant for a bell.”

“Holmes,” I cried, “I seem to see what you mean[26]26
  I seem to see what you mean. – Кажется, я понимаю, что вы имеете в виду.


[Закрыть]. We are in time to prevent some horrible crime.”

“Horrible enough. When a doctor turns to crime[27]27
  turns to crime – преступает закон


[Закрыть] he is the first of criminals. But we shall have enough horrors before the night is over; let us rest and think for a few hours about something more pleasant.”

About eleven o’clock a bright light appeared in the window.

“That is our signal,” said Holmes, “it comes from the middle window.”

A moment later we were out on the dark road, one yellow light guiding us to the house.

We had little difficulty in entering the park. Walking among the trees, I saw someone like a child running and jumping on the grass.the grass.

“My God!” I whispered; “did you see it?”

“That is the baboon.”

I had forgotten the strange pets of the doctor. There was a cheetah, too; it could be upon our backs at any moment. I must say I felt less nervous when we got into the bedroom through the window.