Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           MissStonerdidso,andHolmes,afteracarefulexaminationthroughtheopenwindow,endeavouredineverywaytoforcetheshutteropen,butwithoutsuccess. Therewasnoslitthroughwhichaknifecouldbepassedtoraisethebar. Thenwithhislenshetestedthehinges,buttheywereofsolidiron,builtfirmlyintothemassivemasonry. "Hum!"saidhe,scratchinghischininsomeperplexity, "mytheorycertainlypresentssomedifficulties. Noonecouldpasstheseshuttersiftheywerebolted. Well,weshallseeiftheinsidethrowsanylightuponthematter." 

           Asmallsidedoorledintothewhitewashedcorridorfromwhichthethreebedroomsopened. Holmesrefusedtoexaminethethirdchamber,sowepassedatoncetothesecond,thatinwhichMissStonerwasnowsleeping,andinwhichhersisterhadmetwithherfate. Itwasahomelylittleroom,withalowceilingandagapingfireplace,afterthefashionofoldcountry-houses. Abrownchestofdrawersstoodinonecorner,anarrowwhite-counterpanedbedinanother,andadressing-tableontheleft-handsideofthewindow. Thesearticles,withtwosmallwicker-workchairs,madeupallthefurnitureintheroomsaveforasquareofWiltoncarpetinthecentre. Theboardsroundandthepanellingofthewallswereofbrown,worm-eatenoak,sooldanddiscolouredthatitmayhavedatedfromtheoriginalbuildingofthehouse. Holmesdrewoneofthechairsintoacornerandsatsilent,whilehiseyestravelledroundandroundandupanddown,takingineverydetailoftheapartment. 

           "Wheredoesthatbellcommunicatewith?"heaskedatlastpointingtoathickbelt-ropewhichhungdownbesidethebed,thetasselactuallylyinguponthepillow. 

           "Itgoestothehousekeeper’sroom." 

           "Itlooksnewerthantheotherthings?"