Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of Black Peter
Nearertheroad,andsurroundedonthreesidesbybushes,wasasmallouthouse,onewindowandthedoorfacinginourdirection.Itwasthesceneofthemurder.
StanleyHopkinsledusfirsttothehouse,whereheintroducedustoahaggard,grey-hairedwoman,thewidowofthemurderedman,whosegauntanddeep-linedface,withthefurtivelookofterrorinthedepthsofherred-rimmedeyes,toldoftheyearsofhardshipandill-usagewhichshehadendured.Withherwasherdaughter,apale,fair-hairedgirl,whoseeyesblazeddefiantlyatusasshetoldusthatshewasgladthatherfatherwasdead,andthatsheblessedthehandwhichhadstruckhimdown.ItwasaterriblehouseholdthatBlackPeterCareyhadmadeforhimself,anditwaswithasenseofreliefthatwefoundourselvesinthesunlightagainandmakingourwayalongapathwhichhadbeenwornacrossthefieldsbythefeetofthedeadman.
Theouthousewasthesimplestofdwellings,wooden-walled,shingle-roofed,onewindowbesidethedoorandoneonthefartherside.StanleyHopkinsdrewthekeyfromhispocketandhadstoopedtothelock,whenhepausedwithalookofattentionandsurpriseuponhisface.
“Someonehasbeentamperingwithit,”hesaid.
Therecouldbenodoubtofthefact.Thewoodworkwascut,andthescratchesshowedwhitethroughthepaint,asiftheyhadbeenthatinstantdone.Holmeshadbeenexaminingthewindow.
“Someonehastriedtoforcethisalso.Whoeveritwashasfailedtomakehiswayin.Hemusthavebeenaverypoorburglar.
