Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Второй сборник рассказов (ASCII-IPA)

“You will kindly sign that paper, Mr. Sandeford, in the presence of these witnesses. It is simply to say that you transfer every possible right that you ever had in the bust to me. I am a methodical man, you see, and you never know what turn events might take afterwards. Thank you, Mr. Sandeford; here is your money, and I wish you a very good evening.”

When our visitor had disappeared, Sherlock Holmes’s movements were such as to rivet our attention. He began by taking a clean white cloth from a drawer and laying it over the table. Then he placed his newly acquired bust in the centre of the cloth. Finally, he picked up his hunting-crop and struck Napoleon a sharp blow on the top of the head. The figure broke into fragments, and Holmes bent eagerly over the shattered remains. Next instant, with a loud shout of triumph he held up one splinter, in which a round, dark object was fixed like a plum in a pudding.

“Gentlemen (джентльмены),” he cried (воскликнул он), “let me introduce you to the famous black pearl of the Borgias (разрешите представить вам знаменитую черную жемчужину Борджиа; to introduce — знакомить, представлять; Борджиа — аристократический род, игравший значительную роль в политической жизни Италии в XV — начале XVI веков).”