"Doyle, Arthur Conan - Disappearance Of Lady Frances Carfax" - читать интересную книгу автора (Doyle Arthur Conan)

"It shows, my dear Watson, that we are dealing with an
exceptionally astute and dangerous man. The Rev. Dr.
Shlessinger, missionary from South America, is none other than
Holy Peters, one of the most unscrupulous rascals that Australia
has ever evolved--and for a young country it has turned out some
very finished types. His particular specialty is the beguiling
of lonely ladies by playing upon their religious feelings, and
his so-called wife, an Englishwoman named Fraser, is a worthy
helpmate. The nature of his tactics suggested his identity to
me, and this physical peculiarity--he was badly bitten in a
saloon-fight at Adelaide in '89--confirmed my suspicion. This
poor lady is in the hands of a most infernal couple, who will
stick at nothing, Watson. That she is already dead is a very
likely supposition. If not, she is undoubtedly in some sort of
confinement and unable to write to Miss Dobney or her other
friends. It is always possible that she never reached London, or
that she has passed through it, but the former is improbable, as,
with their system of registration, it is not easy for foreigners
to play tricks with the Continental police; and the latter is
also unlikely, as these rouges could not hope to find any other
place where it would be as easy to keep a person under restraint.
All my instincts tell me that she is in London, but as we have at
present no possible means of telling where, we can only take the
obvious steps, eat our dinner, and possess our souls in patience.
Later in the evening I will stroll down and have a word with
friend Lestrade at Scotland Yard."

But neither the official police nor Holmes's own small but very
efficient organization sufficed to clear away the mystery. Amid
the crowded millions of London the three persons we sought were
as completely obliterated as if they had never lived.
Advertisements were tried, and failed. Clues were followed, and
led to nothing. Every criminal resort which Shlessinger might
frequent was drawn in vain. His old associates were watched, but
they kept clear of him. And then suddenly, after a week of
helpless suspense there came a flash of light. A silver-and-
brilliant pendant of old Spanish design had been pawned at
Bovington's, in Westminster Road. The pawner was a large, clean-
shaven man of clerical appearance. His name and address were
demonstrably false. The ear had escaped notice, but the
description was surely that of Shlessinger.

Three times had our bearded friend from the Langham called for
news--the third time within an hour of this fresh development.
His clothes were getting looser on his great body. He seemed to
be wilting away in his anxiety. "If you will only give me
something to do!" was his constant wail. At last Holmes could
oblige him.