Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Second Stain
WouldtoheavenIhadneverseenit!”
“Howcanwereturnit?”Holmesmuttered.“Quick,quick,wemustthinkofsomeway!Whereisthedespatch-box?”
“Stillinhisbedroom.”
“Whatastrokeofluck!Quick,madam,bringithere!”Amomentlatershehadappearedwitharedflatboxinherhand.
“Howdidyouopenitbefore?Youhaveaduplicatekey?Yes,ofcourseyouhave.Openit!”
FromoutofherbosomLadyHildahaddrawnasmallkey.Theboxflewopen.Itwasstuffedwithpapers.Holmesthrusttheblueenvelopedeepdownintotheheartofthem,betweentheleavesofsomeotherdocument.Theboxwasshut,locked,andreturnedtothebedroom.
“Nowwearereadyforhim,”saidHolmes.“Wehavestilltenminutes.Iamgoingfartoscreenyou,LadyHilda.Inreturnyouwillspendthetimeintellingmefranklytherealmeaningofthisextraordinaryaffair.”
“Mr.Holmes,Iwilltellyoueverything,”criedthelady.“Oh,Mr.Holmes,IwouldcutoffmyrighthandbeforeIgavehimamomentofsorrow!ThereisnowomaninallLondonwholovesherhusbandasIdo,andyetifheknewhowIhaveacted—howIhavebeencompelledtoact—hewouldneverforgiveme.Forhisownhonourstandssohighthathecouldnotforgetorpardonalapseinanother.Helpme,Mr.Holmes!Myhappiness,hishappiness,ourverylivesareatstake!”
“Quick,madam,thetimegrowsshort!”
“Itwasaletterofmine,Mr.Holmes,anindiscreetletterwrittenbeforemymarriage—afoolishletter,aletterofanimpulsive,lovinggirl.Imeantnoharm,andyethewouldhavethoughtitcriminal.
