Повернення Шерлока Холмса

           Holmespickedoneout,butitwasashardtoreadbytheflickeringfire,andhedrewouthislittledarklantern,foritwastoodangerous,withMilvertoninthenextroom,toswitchontheelectriclight.SuddenlyIsawhimhalt,listenintently,andtheninaninstanthehadswungthedoorofthesafeto,pickeduphiscoat,stuffedhistoolsintothepockets,anddartedbehindthewindowcurtain,motioningmetodothesame.

           ItwasonlywhenIhadjoinedhimtherethatIheardwhathadalarmedhisquickersenses.Therewasanoisesomewherewithinthehouse.Adoorslammedinthedistance.Thenaconfused,dullmurmurbrokeitselfintothemeasuredthudofheavyfootstepsrapidlyapproaching.Theywereinthepassageoutsidetheroom.Theypausedatthedoor.Thedooropened.Therewasasharpsnickastheelectriclightwasturnedon.Thedoorclosedoncemore,andthepungentreekofastrongcigarwasbornetoournostrils.Thenthefootstepscontinuedbackwardandforward,backwardandforward,withinafewyardsofus.Finallytherewasacreakfromachair,andthefootstepsceased.Thenakeyclickedinalock,andIheardtherustleofpapers.

           SofarIhadnotdaredtolookout,butnowIgentlypartedthedivisionofthecurtainsinfrontofmeandpeepedthrough.FromthepressureofHolmes’sshoulderagainstmine,Iknewthathewassharingmyobservations.Rightinfrontofus,andalmostwithinourreach,wasthebroad,roundedbackofMilverton.