Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           "Therewasalittlepassageinfrontofme,unpaperedanduncarpeted,whichturnedatarightangleatthefartherend. Roundthiscornerwerethreedoorsinaline,thefirstandthirdofwhichwereopen. Theyeachledintoanemptyroom,dustyandcheerless,withtwowindowsintheoneandoneintheother,sothickwithdirtthattheeveninglightglimmereddimlythroughthem. Thecentredoorwasclosed,andacrosstheoutsideofithadbeenfastenedoneofthebroadbarsofanironbed,padlockedatoneendtoaringinthewall,andfastenedattheotherwithstoutcord. Thedooritselfwaslockedaswell,andthekeywasnotthere. Thisbarricadeddoorcorrespondedclearlywiththeshutteredwindowoutside,andyetIcouldseebytheglimmerfrombeneathitthattheroomwasnotindarkness. Evidentlytherewasaskylightwhichletinlightfromabove. AsIstoodinthepassagegazingatthesinisterdoorandwonderingwhatsecretitmightveil,Isuddenlyheardthesoundofstepswithintheroomandsawashadowpassbackwardandforwardagainstthelittleslitofdimlightwhichshoneoutfromunderthedoor. Amad,unreasoningterrorroseupinmeatthesight,Mr.Holmes. Myoverstrungnervesfailedmesuddenly,andIturnedandran—ranasthoughsomedreadfulhandwerebehindmeclutchingattheskirtofmydress. Irusheddownthepassage,throughthedoor,andstraightintothearmsofMr.Rucastle,whowaswaitingoutside. 

           "‘So,’saidhe,smiling,‘itwasyou,then. IthoughtthatitmustbewhenIsawthedooropen.’ 

           "‘Oh,Iamsofrightened!’Ipanted. 

           "‘Mydearyounglady!mydearyounglady!’—youcannotthinkhowcaressingandsoothinghismannerwas—‘andwhathasfrightenedyou,mydearyounglady?’ 

           "Buthisvoicewasjustalittletoocoaxing. Heoverdidit. Iwaskeenlyonmyguardagainsthim.