Повернення Шерлока Холмса

The Adventure of the Second Stain

           

           “Thenforfourhoursthedespatch-boxhadlainunguarded?”

           “Nooneiseverpermittedtoenterthatroomsavethehouse-maidinthemorning,andmyvalet,ormywife’smaid,duringtherestoftheday.Theyarebothtrustyservantswhohavebeenwithusforsometime.Besides,neitherofthemcouldpossiblyhaveknownthattherewasanythingmorevaluablethantheordinarydepartmentalpapersinmydespatch-box.”

           “Whodidknowoftheexistenceofthatletter?”

           “Nooneinthehouse.”

           “Surelyyourwifeknew?”

           “No,sir.IhadsaidnothingtomywifeuntilImissedthepaperthismorning.”

           ThePremiernoddedapprovingly.

           “Ihavelongknown,sir,howhighisyoursenseofpublicduty,”saidhe.“Iamconvincedthatinthecaseofasecretofthisimportanceitwouldrisesuperiortothemostintimatedomesticties.”

           TheEuropeanSecretarybowed.

           “Youdomenomorethanjustice,sir.UntilthismorningIhaveneverbreathedonewordtomywifeuponthismatter.”

           “Couldshehaveguessed?”

           “No,Mr.Holmes,shecouldnothaveguessed—norcouldanyonehaveguessed.”

           “Haveyoulostanydocumentsbefore?”

           “No,sir.”

           “WhoisthereinEnglandwhodidknowoftheexistenceofthisletter?”

           “EachmemberoftheCabinetwasinformedofityesterday,butthepledgeofsecrecywhichattendseveryCabinetmeetingwasincreasedbythesolemnwarningwhichwasgivenbythePrimeMinister.Goodheavens,tothinkthatwithinafewhoursIshouldmyselfhavelostit!”Hishandsomefacewasdistortedwithaspasmofdespair,andhishandstoreathishair.

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