Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Second Stain
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“Andwhy,sir?”
“Becausethedocumentinquestionisofsuchimmenseimportancethatitspublicationmightveryeasily—Imightalmostsayprobably—leadtoEuropeancomplicationsoftheutmostmoment.Itisnottoomuchtosaythatpeaceorwarmayhangupontheissue.Unlessitsrecoverycanbeattendedwiththeutmostsecrecy,thenitmayaswellnotberecoveredatall,forallthatisaimedatbythosewhohavetakenitisthatitscontentsshouldbegenerallyknown.”
“Iunderstand.Now,Mr.TrelawneyHope,Ishouldbemuchobligedifyouwouldtellmeexactlythecircumstancesunderwhichthisdocumentdisappeared.”
“Thatcanbedoneinaveryfewwords,Mr.Holmes.Theletter—foritwasaletterfromaforeignpotentate—wasreceivedsixdaysago.ItwasofsuchimportancethatIhaveneverleftitinmysafe,buthavetakenitacrosseacheveningtomyhouseinWhitehallTerrace,andkeptitinmybedroominalockeddespatch-box.Itwastherelastnight.OfthatIamcertain.IactuallyopenedtheboxwhileIwasdressingfordinnerandsawthedocumentinside.Thismorningitwasgone.Thedespatch-boxhadstoodbesidetheglassuponmydressing-tableallnight.Iamalightsleeper,andsoismywife.Wearebothpreparedtoswearthatnoonecouldhaveenteredtheroomduringthenight.AndyetIrepeatthatthepaperisgone.”
“Whattimedidyoudine?”
“Half-pastseven.”
“Howlongwasitbeforeyouwenttobed?”
“Mywifehadgonetothetheatre.Iwaitedupforher.Itwashalf-pastelevenbeforewewenttoourroom.
