Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Yellow Face
"IshouldhavegonetotheCitythatday,butIwastoodisturbedinmymindtobeabletopayattentiontobusinessmatters.Mywifeseemedtobeasupsetasmyself,andIcouldseefromthelittlequestioningglanceswhichshekeptshootingatmethatsheunderstoodthatIdisbelievedherstatement,andthatshewasatherwit’sendwhattodo.Wehardlyexchangedawordduringbreakfast,andimmediatelyafterwardsIwentoutforawalkthatImightthinkthematteroutinthefreshmorningair.
"IwentasfarastheCrystalPalace,spentanhourinthegrounds,andwasbackinNorburybyoneo’clock.Ithappenedthatmywaytookmepastthecottage,andIstoppedforaninstanttolookatthewindowsandtoseeifIcouldcatchaglimpseofthestrangefacewhichhadlookedoutatmeonthedaybefore.AsIstoodthere,imaginemysurprise,Mr.Holmes,whenthedoorsuddenlyopenedandmywifewalkedout.
"Iwasstruckdumbwithastonishmentatthesightofher,butmyemotionswerenothingtothosewhichshowedthemselvesuponherfacewhenoureyesmet.Sheseemedforaninstanttowishtoshrinkbackinsidethehouseagain;andthen,seeinghowuselessallconcealmentmustbe,shecameforward,withaverywhitefaceandfrightenedeyeswhichbeliedthesmileuponherlips.
"‘Ah,Jack,"shesaid,‘IhavejustbeenintoseeifIcanbeofanyassistancetoournewneighbours.
