Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Naval Treaty
Openingthedoor,Istarteddownthecorridortofindout.Therewasastraightpassage,dimlylighted,whichledfromtheroominwhichIhadbeenworking,andwastheonlyexitfromit.Itendedinacurvingstaircase,withthecommissionaire’slodgeinthepassageatthebottom.Halfwaydownthisstaircaseisasmalllanding,withanotherpassagerunningintoitatrightangles.Thissecondoneleadsbymeansofasecondsmallstairtoasidedoor,usedbyservants,andalsoasashortcutbyclerkswhencomingfromCharlesStreet.Hereisaroughchartoftheplace."
"Thankyou,IthinkthatIquitefollowyou,"saidSherlockHolmes.
"Itisoftheutmostimportancethatyoushouldnoticethispoint.Iwentdownthestairsandintothehall,whereIfoundthecommissionairefastasleepinhisbox,withthekettleboilingfuriouslyuponthespirit-lamp.Itookoffthekettleandblewoutthelamp,forthewaterwasspurtingoverthefloor.ThenIputoutmyhandandwasabouttoshaketheman,whowasstillsleepingsoundly,whenabelloverhisheadrangloudly,andhewokewithastart.
"‘Mr.Phelps,sir!"saidhe,lookingatmeinbewilderment.
"‘Icamedowntoseeifmycoffeewasready.’
"‘IwasboilingthekettlewhenIfellasleep,sir."Helookedatmeandthenupatthestillquiveringbellwithanever-growingastonishmentuponhisface.
"‘Ifyouwashere,sir,thenwhorangthebell?"heasked.
"‘Thebell!"Icried.
