Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez
Myhusbandfoundandkeptbothdiaryandletters.Hehidthem,andhetriedhardtoswearawaytheyoungman’slife.Inthishefailed,butAlexiswassentaconvicttoSiberia,wherenow,atthismoment,heworksinasaltmine.Thinkofthat,youvillain,youvillain!—now,now,atthisverymoment,Alexis,amanwhosenameyouarenotworthytospeak,worksandliveslikeaslave,andyetIhaveyourlifeinmyhands,andIletyougo.”
“Youwerealwaysanoblewoman,Anna,”saidtheoldman,puffingathiscigarette.
Shehadrisen,butshefellbackagainwithalittlecryofpain.
“Imustfinish,”shesaid.“WhenmytermwasoverIsetmyselftogetthediaryandletterswhich,ifsenttotheRussiangovernment,wouldprocuremyfriend’srelease.IknewthatmyhusbandhadcometoEngland.AftermonthsofsearchingIdiscoveredwherehewas.Iknewthathestillhadthediary,forwhenIwasinSiberiaIhadaletterfromhimonce,reproachingmeandquotingsomepassagesfromitspages.YetIwassurethat,withhisrevengefulnature,hewouldnevergiveittomeofhisownfree-will.Imustgetitformyself.WiththisobjectIengagedanagentfromaprivatedetectivefirm,whoenteredmyhusband’shouseasasecretary—itwasyoursecondsecretary,Sergius,theonewholeftyousohurriedly.Hefoundthatpaperswerekeptinthecupboard,andhegotanimpressionofthekey.Hewouldnotgofarther.Hefurnishedmewithaplanofthehouse,andhetoldmethatintheforenoonthestudywasalwaysempty,asthesecretarywasemployeduphere.
