Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса

           OnreachingScotlandYard,however,itwasmorethananhourbeforewecouldgetInspectorGregsonandcomplywiththelegalformalitieswhichwouldenableustoenterthehouse.ItwasaquartertotenbeforewereachedLondonBridge,andhalfpastbeforethefourofusalightedontheBeckenhamplatform.AdriveofhalfamilebroughtustoTheMyrtles—alarge,darkhousestandingbackfromtheroadinitsowngrounds.Herewedismissedourcabandmadeourwayupthedrivetogether.

           "Thewindowsarealldark,"remarkedtheinspector."Thehouseseemsdeserted."

           "Ourbirdsareflownandthenestempty,"saidHolmes.

           "Whydoyousayso?"

           "Acarriageheavilyloadedwithluggagehaspassedoutduringthelasthour."

           Theinspectorlaughed."Isawthewheel-tracksinthelightofthegate-lamp,butwheredoestheluggagecomein?"

           "Youmayhaveobservedthesamewheel-tracksgoingtheotherway.Buttheoutward-boundoneswereverymuchdeeper—somuchsothatwecansayforacertaintythattherewasaveryconsiderableweightonthecarriage."

           "Yougetatriflebeyondmethere,"saidtheinspector,shrugginghisshoulders."Itwillnotbeaneasydoortoforce,butwewilltryifwecannotmakesomeonehearus."

           Hehammeredloudlyattheknockerandpulledatthebell,butwithoutanysuccess.Holmeshadslippedaway,buthecamebackinafewminutes.

           "Ihaveawindowopen,"saidhe.