Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton
Atleast,Ithought,whenhehasfinishedthedocumentandthecigarhewillgotohisroom,butbeforehehadreachedtheendofeither,therecamearemarkabledevelopment,whichturnedourthoughtsintoquiteanotherchannel.
SeveraltimesIhadobservedthatMilvertonlookedathiswatch,andoncehehadrisenandsatdownagain,withagestureofimpatience.Theidea,however,thathemighthaveanappointmentatsostrangeanhourneveroccurredtomeuntilafaintsoundreachedmyearsfromtheverandaoutside.Milvertondroppedhispapersandsatrigidinhischair.Thesoundwasrepeated,andthentherecameagentletapatthedoor.Milvertonroseandopenedit.
“Well,”saidhe,curtly,“youarenearlyhalfanhourlate.”
SothiswastheexplanationoftheunlockeddoorandofthenocturnalvigilofMilverton.Therewasthegentlerustleofawoman’sdress.IhadclosedtheslitbetweenthecurtainsasMilverton’sfacehadturnedinourdirection,butnowIventuredverycarefullytoopenitoncemore.Hehadresumedhisseat,thecigarstillprojectingataninsolentanglefromthecornerofhismouth.Infrontofhim,inthefullglareoftheelectriclight,therestoodatall,slim,darkwoman,aveiloverherface,amantledrawnroundherchin.Herbreathcamequickandfast,andeveryinchofthelithefigurewasquiveringwithstrongemotion.
“Well,”saidMilverton,“youmademeloseagoodnight’srest,mydear.Ihopeyou’llproveworthit.Youcouldn’tcomeanyothertime—eh?”
Thewomanshookherhead.
“Well,ifyoucouldn’tyoucouldn’t.
