Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez
”
“Isitasimplekey?”
“No,sir,itisaChubb’skey.”
“Verygood.Mrs.Marker,youcango.Nowwearemakingalittleprogress.Ourladyenterstheroom,advancestothebureau,andeitheropensitortriestodoso.Whilesheisthusengaged,youngWilloughbySmithenterstheroom.Inherhurrytowithdrawthekey,shemakesthisscratchuponthedoor.Heseizesher,andshe,snatchingupthenearestobject,whichhappenstobethisknife,strikesathiminordertomakehimletgohishold.Theblowisafatalone.Hefallsandsheescapes,eitherwithorwithouttheobjectforwhichshehascome.IsSusan,themaid,there?Couldanyonehavegotawaythroughthatdoorafterthetimethatyouheardthecry,Susan?”
“No,sir,itisimpossible.BeforeIgotdownthestair,I’dhaveseenanyoneinthepassage.Besides,thedoorneveropened,orIwouldhaveheardit.”
“Thatsettlesthisexit.Thennodoubttheladywentoutthewayshecame.Iunderstandthatthisotherpassageleadsonlytotheprofessor’sroom.Thereisnoexitthatway?”
“No,sir.”
“Weshallgodownitandmaketheacquaintanceoftheprofessor.Halloa,Hopkins!thisisveryimportant,veryimportantindeed.Theprofessor’scorridorisalsolinedwithcocoanutmatting.”
“Well,sir,whatofthat?”
“Don’tyouseeanybearinguponthecase?Well,well.Idon’tinsistuponit.NodoubtIamwrong.Andyetitseemstometobesuggestive.Comewithmeandintroduceme.”
Wepasseddownthepassage,whichwasofthesamelengthasthatwhichledtothegarden.
