“We have an inspector who makes a specialty of Saffron Hill and the Italian Quarter. Well, this dead man had some Catholic emblem round his neck, and that, along with his colour, made me think he was from the South. Inspector Hill knew him the moment he caught sight of him. His name is Pietro Venucci, from Naples, and he is one of the greatest cut-throats in London. He is connected with the Mafia, which, as you know, is a secret political society, enforcing its decrees by murder. Now, you see how the affair begins to clear up. The other fellow is probably an Italian also, and a member of the Mafia. He has broken the rules in some fashion. Pietro is set upon his track. Probably the photograph we found in his pocket is the man himself, so that he may not knife the wrong person. He dogs the fellow, he sees him enter a house, he waits outside for him, and in the scuffle he receives his own death-wound. How is that, Mr. Sherlock Holmes?”

Holmes clapped his hands approvingly (Холмс одобрительно хлопнул в ладоши; to approve of something — одобрять что-либо).

“Excellent, Lestrade, excellent (превосходно, Лестрейд, превосходно)!” he cried (воскликнул он). “But I didn’t quite follow your explanation of the destruction of the busts (но я не вполне понимаю, как вы объясните уничтожение бюстов; to follow — следовать; слушать, следить /за речью/; разделять взгляды, поддерживать; explanation — объяснение, толкование; to explain — объяснять, разъяснять).”

“The busts (бюстов)! You never can get those busts out of your head (вы никак не можете выбросить эти бюсты из головы). After all, that is nothing (в конце концов, это пустяки; nothing — ничто; мелочь, пустяк); petty larceny (мелкая кража), six months at the most (/за нее полагается/ шесть месяцев /тюрьмы/ самое большее). It is the murder that we are really investigating (убийство — вот что мы действительно расследуем = что мы действительно расследуем, так это убийство), and I tell you that I am gathering all the threads into my hands (и, скажу я вам, почти все нити у меня в руках: «я собираю все нити в свои руки»; to gather — собирать; приобретать).”

“And the next stage (какие /ваши/ следующие = дальнейшие шаги; stage — сцена; период, стадия, ступень, фаза, этап)?”

“Is a very simple one (очень простые). I shall go down with Hill to the Italian Quarter (я отправлюсь вместе с Хиллом в итальянский квартал), find the man whose photograph we have got (найду человека, чья фотография имеется у нас), and arrest him on the charge of murder (и арестую его по обвинению в убийстве; to bring a charge — предъявить обвинение). Will you come with us (вы пойдете с нами)?”

approvingly ['pru:vl], larceny ['l:sn], charge [:]

Holmes clapped his hands approvingly.

“Excellent, Lestrade, excellent!” he cried. “But I didn’t quite follow your explanation of the destruction of the busts.”

“The busts! You never can get those busts out of your head. After all, that is nothing; petty larceny, six months at the most. It is the murder that we are really investigating, and I tell you that I am gathering all the threads into my hands.”

“And the next stage?”

“Is a very simple one. I shall go down with Hill to the Italian Quarter, find the man whose photograph we have got, and arrest him on the charge of murder. Will you come with us?”