Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter XII. The Last Link
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“Itwastodiscoverthatletter,then,thatherhusbandforcedthelockofthedespatch-case?”
“Yes,andfromtheenormousriskheranwecanseehowfullyherealizeditsimportance.Thatletterexcepted,therewasabsolutelynothingtoconnecthimwiththecrime.”
“There’sonlyonethingIcan’tmakeout,whydidn’thedestroyitatoncewhenhegotholdofit?”
“Becausehedidnotdaretakethebiggestriskofall—thatofkeepingitonhisownperson.”
“Idon’tunderstand.”
“Lookatitfromhispointofview.Ihavediscoveredthattherewereonlyfiveshortminutesinwhichhecouldhavetakenit—thefiveminutesimmediatelybeforeourownarrivalonthescene,forbeforethattimeAnniewasbrushingthestairs,andwouldhaveseenanyonewhopassedgoingtotherightwing.Figuretoyourselfthescene!Heenterstheroom,unlockingthedoorbymeansofoneoftheotherdoorkeys—theywereallmuchalike.Hehurriestothedespatch-case—itislocked,andthekeysarenowheretobeseen.Thatisaterribleblowtohim,foritmeansthathispresenceintheroomcannotbeconcealedashehadhoped.Butheseesclearlythateverythingmustberiskedforthesakeofthatdamningpieceofevidence.Quickly,heforcesthelockwithapenknife,andturnsoverthepapersuntilhefindswhatheislookingfor.
“Butnowafreshdilemmaarises:hedarenotkeepthatpieceofpaperonhim.Hemaybeseenleavingtheroom—hemaybesearched.Ifthepaperisfoundonhim,itiscertaindoom.Probably,atthisminute,too,hehearsthesoundsbelowofMr.
