Повернення Шерлока Холмса

           IftheCountessisahardmistress,youhaveyourchancetogetlevelwithhernow.Blessthegirl,whatareyoushiveringabout?That’sright.Pullyourselftogether.Now,letusgetdowntobusiness.”Hetookanotebookfromthedrawerofhisdesk.“YousaythatyouhavefiveletterswhichcompromisetheCountessd’Albert.Youwanttosellthem.Iwanttobuythem.Sofarsogood.Itonlyremainstofixaprice.Ishouldwanttoinspecttheletters,ofcourse.Iftheyarereallygoodspecimens—Greatheavens,isityou?”

           Thewoman,withoutaword,hadraisedherveilanddroppedthemantlefromherchin.Itwasadark,handsome,clear-cutfacewhichconfrontedMilverton—afacewithacurvednose,strong,darkeyebrowsshadinghard,glitteringeyes,andastraight,thin-lippedmouthsetinadangeroussmile.

           “ItisI,”shesaid,“thewomanwhoselifeyouhaveruined.”

           Milvertonlaughed,butfearvibratedinhisvoice.“Youweresoveryobstinate,”saidhe.“Whydidyoudrivemetosuchextremities?IassureyouIwouldn’thurtaflyofmyownaccord,buteverymanhashisbusiness,andwhatwasItodo?Iputthepricewellwithinyourmeans.Youwouldnotpay.”

           “Soyousenttheletterstomyhusband,andhe—thenoblestgentlemanthateverlived,amanwhosebootsIwasneverworthytolace—hebrokehisgallantheartanddied.Yourememberthatlastnight,whenIcamethroughthatdoor,Ibeggedandprayedyouformercy,andyoulaughedinmyfaceasyouaretryingtolaughnow,onlyyourcowardheartcannotkeepyourlipsfromtwitching.