Этюд в багровых тонах
Light in the Darkness.
Forasecondortwowemighthavebeenagroupofstatues. Then,withaninarticulateroaroffury,theprisonerwrenchedhimselffreefromHolmes’sgrasp,andhurledhimselfthroughthewindow. Woodworkandglassgavewaybeforehim;butbeforehegotquitethrough,Gregson,Lestrade,andHolmesspranguponhimlikesomanystaghounds. Hewasdraggedbackintotheroom,andthencommencedaterrificconflict. Sopowerfulandsofiercewashe,thatthefourofuswereshakenoffagainandagain. Heappearedtohavetheconvulsivestrengthofamaninanepilepticfit. Hisfaceandhandswereterriblymangledbyhispassagethroughtheglass,butlossofbloodhadnoeffectindiminishinghisresistance. ItwasnotuntilLestradesucceededingettinghishandinsidehisneckclothandhalf-stranglinghimthatwemadehimrealizethathisstruggleswereofnoavail;andeventhenwefeltnosecurityuntilwehadpinionedhisfeetaswellashishands. Thatdone,werosetoourfeetbreathlessandpanting.
“Wehavehiscab,”saidSherlockHolmes. “ItwillservetotakehimtoScotlandYard. Andnow,gentlemen,”hecontinued,withapleasantsmile,“wehavereachedtheendofourlittlemystery. Youareverywelcometoputanyquestionsthatyouliketomenow,andthereisnodangerthatIwillrefusetoanswerthem.”
