Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Second Stain
Foramomentwecaughtaglimpseofthenaturalman,impulsive,ardent,keenlysensitive.Thenextthearistocraticmaskwasreplaced,andthegentlevoicehadreturned.“BesidesthemembersoftheCabinettherearetwo,orpossiblythree,departmentalofficialswhoknowoftheletter.NooneelseinEngland,Mr.Holmes,Iassureyou.”
“Butabroad?”
“Ibelievethatnooneabroadhasseenitsavethemanwhowroteit.IamwellconvincedthathisMinisters—thattheusualofficialchannelshavenotbeenemployed.”
Holmesconsideredforsomelittletime.
“Now,sir,Imustaskyoumoreparticularlywhatthisdocumentis,andwhyitsdisappearanceshouldhavesuchmomentousconsequences?”
ThetwostatesmenexchangedaquickglanceandthePremier’sshaggyeyebrowsgatheredinafrown.
“Mr.Holmes,theenvelopeisalong,thinoneofpalebluecolour.Thereisasealofredwaxstampedwithacrouchinglion.Itisaddressedinlarge,boldhandwritingto——”
“Ifear,sir,”saidHolmes,“that,interestingandindeedessentialasthesedetailsare,myinquiriesmustgomoretotherootofthings.Whatwastheletter?”
“ThatisaStatesecretoftheutmostimportance,andIfearthatIcannottellyou,nordoIseethatitisnecessary.IfbytheaidofthepowerswhichyouaresaidtopossessyoucanfindsuchanenvelopeasIdescribewithitsenclosure,youwillhavedeservedwellofyourcountry,andearnedanyrewardwhichitliesinourpowertobestow.”
SherlockHolmesrosewithasmile.
