Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Yellow Face
AsIenteredthehousethemaidranintothehallwithastartledface.
"‘Whereisyourmistress?"Iasked.
"‘Ithinkthatshehasgoneoutforawalk,"sheanswered.
"Mymindwasinstantlyfilledwithsuspicion.Irushedupstairstomakesurethatshewasnotinthehouse.AsIdidsoIhappenedtoglanceoutofoneoftheupperwindowsandsawthemaidwithwhomIhadjustbeenspeakingrunningacrossthefieldinthedirectionofthecottage.ThenofcourseIsawexactlywhatitallmeant.MywifehadgoneoverthereandhadaskedtheservanttocallherifIshouldreturn.Tinglingwithanger,Irusheddownandhurriedacross,determinedtoendthematteronceandforever.Isawmywifeandthemaidhurryingbackalongthelane,butIdidnotstoptospeakwiththem.Inthecottagelaythesecretwhichwascastingashadowovermylife.Ivowedthat,comewhatmight,itshouldbeasecretnolonger.IdidnotevenknockwhenIreachedit,butturnedthehandleandrushedintothepassage.
"Itwasallstillandquietuponthegroundfloor.Inthekitchenakettlewassingingonthefire,andalargeblackcatlaycoiledupinthebasket;buttherewasnosignofthewomanwhomIhadseenbefore.Iranintotheotherroom,butitwasequallydeserted.ThenIrushedupthestairsonlytofindtwootherroomsemptyanddesertedatthetop.Therewasnooneatallinthewholehouse.
