Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Second Stain
”
“Thenforfourhoursthedespatch-boxhadlainunguarded?”
“Nooneiseverpermittedtoenterthatroomsavethehouse-maidinthemorning,andmyvalet,ormywife’smaid,duringtherestoftheday.Theyarebothtrustyservantswhohavebeenwithusforsometime.Besides,neitherofthemcouldpossiblyhaveknownthattherewasanythingmorevaluablethantheordinarydepartmentalpapersinmydespatch-box.”
“Whodidknowoftheexistenceofthatletter?”
“Nooneinthehouse.”
“Surelyyourwifeknew?”
“No,sir.IhadsaidnothingtomywifeuntilImissedthepaperthismorning.”
ThePremiernoddedapprovingly.
“Ihavelongknown,sir,howhighisyoursenseofpublicduty,”saidhe.“Iamconvincedthatinthecaseofasecretofthisimportanceitwouldrisesuperiortothemostintimatedomesticties.”
TheEuropeanSecretarybowed.
“Youdomenomorethanjustice,sir.UntilthismorningIhaveneverbreathedonewordtomywifeuponthismatter.”
“Couldshehaveguessed?”
“No,Mr.Holmes,shecouldnothaveguessed—norcouldanyonehaveguessed.”
“Haveyoulostanydocumentsbefore?”
“No,sir.”
“WhoisthereinEnglandwhodidknowoftheexistenceofthisletter?”
“EachmemberoftheCabinetwasinformedofityesterday,butthepledgeofsecrecywhichattendseveryCabinetmeetingwasincreasedbythesolemnwarningwhichwasgivenbythePrimeMinister.Goodheavens,tothinkthatwithinafewhoursIshouldmyselfhavelostit!”Hishandsomefacewasdistortedwithaspasmofdespair,andhishandstoreathishair.
