Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb
Atlast,however,thebumpingoftheroadwasexchangedforthecrispsmoothnessofagravel-drive,andthecarriagecametoastand. ColonelLysanderStarksprangout,and,asIfollowedafterhim,pulledmeswiftlyintoaporchwhichgapedinfrontofus. Westepped,asitwere,rightoutofthecarriageandintothehall,sothatIfailedtocatchthemostfleetingglanceofthefrontofthehouse. TheinstantthatIhadcrossedthethresholdthedoorslammedheavilybehindus,andIheardfaintlytherattleofthewheelsasthecarriagedroveaway.
"Itwaspitchdarkinsidethehouse,andthecolonelfumbledaboutlookingformatchesandmutteringunderhisbreath. Suddenlyadooropenedattheotherendofthepassage,andalong,goldenbaroflightshotoutinourdirection. Itgrewbroader,andawomanappearedwithalampinherhand,whichsheheldaboveherhead,pushingherfaceforwardandpeeringatus. Icouldseethatshewaspretty,andfromtheglosswithwhichthelightshoneuponherdarkdressIknewthatitwasarichmaterial. Shespokeafewwordsinaforeigntongueinatoneasthoughaskingaquestion,andwhenmycompanionansweredinagruffmonosyllableshegavesuchastartthatthelampnearlyfellfromherhand. ColonelStarkwentuptoher,whisperedsomethinginherear,andthen,pushingherbackintotheroomfromwhenceshehadcome,hewalkedtowardsmeagainwiththelampinhishand.
"‘Perhapsyouwillhavethekindnesstowaitinthisroomforafewminutes,’saidhe,throwingopenanotherdoor. Itwasaquiet,little,plainlyfurnishedroom,witharoundtableinthecentre,onwhichseveralGermanbookswerescattered. ColonelStarklaiddownthelamponthetopofaharmoniumbesidethedoor. ‘Ishallnotkeepyouwaitinganinstant,’saidhe,andvanishedintothedarkness.
