БИЛЕТ №23

3. Mind the text “The Adventure of the Empty House” by A. Conan Doyle.and with the help of the questions describe the events in 10-15 sentences.

1. What was strange about the incident?

2. Whom did Watson strike against in the street when he was looking at the house at Park Lane? Who did that man turn out to be?

3. Why did Holmes take Watson to an empty house?

4. What was the reason for Colonel Sebastian Moran's having killed Ronald Adair?

One day Dr. Watson decided to check 427 Park Lane where a young gambler, the Honorable Ronald Adair, was shot. It was strange that he was shot in a closed room. On his way back Watson bumped into an old book collector, who followed him home to his Kensington practice study then dropped his disguise.That man turn out to be Holmes. Holmes apologized for the deception needed to outwit his enemies, and described his three years' absence. He needed funds, so he confided in his brother Mycroft, who had preserved Sherlock Holmes's rooms.

Holmes is convinced that Adair was killed by Colonel Sebastian Moran, a surviving lieutenant of Moriarty. Holmes had set a trap: the empty house across from his Baker Street flat had a clear view of a wax bust of Holmes, which was moved regularly from below by Mrs. Hudson to simulate life. After a roundabout route, Watson and Holmes waited two hours until around midnight in the abandoned Camden House. Moran, who had taken the bait, fired a specialized air-gun. Watson knocked down the villain, while Holmes whistled for Inspector Lestrade and the police.

Back at Baker Street, Holmes explained. Adair planned to expose card-partner Moran whom he found cheating, and had locked himself in to count out the spoils he needed to return. Moran would had been ruined by the exposure and killed Adair instead.