But before we could move, the man had emerged again. As he came out into the glimmering patch of light, we saw that he carried something white under his arm. He looked stealthily all round him. The silence of the deserted street reassured him. Turning his back upon us he laid down his burden, and the next instant there was the sound of a sharp tap, followed by a clatter and rattle. The man was so intent upon what he was doing that he never heard our steps as we stole across the grass plot. With the bound of a tiger Holmes was on his back, and an instant later Lestrade and I had him by either wrist, and the handcuffs had been fastened. As we turned him over I saw a hideous, sallow face, with writhing, furious features, glaring up at us, and I knew that it was indeed the man of the photograph whom we had secured.

But it was not our prisoner to whom Holmes was giving his attention (но не на нашего пленника устремил Холмс свое внимание; prisoner — заключенный; пленник, узник; prison — тюрьма; to give attention to — уделять внимание /чему-либо/). Squatted on the doorstep (сидя на корточках на пороге), he was engaged in most carefully examining that (он был занят самым тщательным исследованием того = самым тщательным образом рассматривал то) which the man had brought from the house (что преступник вынес из дома; to bring). It was a bust of Napoleon (это был бюст Наполеона), like the one which we had seen that morning (/такой же/, как тот, что мы видели этим утром), and it had been broken into similar fragments (он был разбит на похожие куски). Carefully Holmes held each separate shard to the light (Холмс внимательно подносил к свету = исследовал на свету каждый отдельный осколок), but in no way did it differ from any other shattered piece of plaster (но никоим образом тот не отличался от любого другого обломка гипса = все они казались одинаковыми). He had just completed his examination (едва он закончил свое исследование) when the hall lights flew up (как в прихожей зажегся свет; to fly — летать; разлетаться, распространяться; to fly up — взлетать, вспорхнуть), the door opened (дверь открылась), and the owner of the house (и хозяин дома), a jovial, rotund figure in shirt and trousers (веселый, полный человек в рубашке и брюках; jovial — веселый, общительный; живой; figure — фигура /человека/; телосложение; внешний вид), presented himself (появился /перед нами/; to present — представлять; являть собой; to present oneself — представляться; появляться).

“Mr. Josiah Brown, I suppose (мистер Джосайя Браун, я полагаю)?” said Holmes.

prisoner ['przn], separate ['seprt], jovial ['uvl], trousers ['trauzz]

But it was not our prisoner to whom Holmes was giving his attention. Squatted on the doorstep, he was engaged in most carefully examining that which the man had brought from the house. It was a bust of Napoleon, like the one which we had seen that morning, and it had been broken into similar fragments. Carefully Holmes held each separate shard to the light, but in no way did it differ from any other shattered piece of plaster. He had just completed his examination when the hall lights flew up, the door opened, and the owner of the house, a jovial, rotund figure in shirt and trousers, presented himself.

“Mr. Josiah Brown, I suppose?” said Holmes.