Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Musgrave Ritual
Oh,yes,heisgone,heisgone!"Shefellbackagainstthewallwithshriekaftershriekoflaughter,whileI,horrifiedatthissuddenhystericalattack,rushedtothebelltosummonhelp.Thegirlwastakentoherroom,stillscreamingandsobbing,whileImadeinquiriesaboutBrunton.Therewasnodoubtaboutitthathehaddisappeared.Hisbedhadnotbeensleptin,hehadbeenseenbynoonesincehehadretiredtohisroomthenightbefore,andyetitwasdifficulttoseehowhecouldhaveleftthehouse,asbothwindowsanddoorswerefoundtobefastenedinthemorning.Hisclothes,hiswatch,andevenhismoneywereinhisroom,buttheblacksuitwhichheusuallyworewasmissing.Hisslippers,too,weregone,buthisbootswereleftbehind.WherethencouldbutlerBruntonhavegoneinthenight,andwhatcouldhavebecomeofhimnow?
"‘Ofcoursewesearchedthehousefromcellartogarret,buttherewasnotraceofhim.Itis,asIhavesaid,alabyrinthofanoldhouse,especiallytheoriginalwing,whichisnowpracticallyuninhabited;butweransackedeveryroomandcellarwithoutdiscoveringtheleastsignofthemissingman.Itwasincredibletomethathecouldhavegoneawayleavingallhispropertybehindhim,andyetwherecouldhebe?Icalledinthelocalpolice,butwithoutsuccess.Rainhadfallenonthenightbefore,andweexaminedthelawnandthepathsallroundthehouse,butinvain.Matterswereinthisstate,whenanewdevelopmentquitedrewourattentionawayfromtheoriginalmystery.
