Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Second Stain
“Youaretwoofthemostbusymeninthecountry,”saidhe,“andinmyownsmallwayIhavealsoagoodmanycallsuponme.IregretexceedinglythatIcannothelpyouinthismatter,andanycontinuationofthisinterviewwouldbeawasteoftime.”
ThePremiersprangtohisfeetwiththatquick,fiercegleamofhisdeep-seteyesbeforewhichaCabinethascowered.“Iamnotaccustomed,sir,”hebegan,butmasteredhisangerandresumedhisseat.Foraminuteormoreweallsatinsilence.Thentheoldstatesmanshruggedhisshoulders.
“Wemustacceptyourterms,Mr.Holmes.Nodoubtyouareright,anditisunreasonableforustoexpectyoutoactunlesswegiveyouourentireconfidence.”
“Iagreewithyou,”saidtheyoungerstatesman.
“ThenIwilltellyou,relyingentirelyuponyourhonourandthatofyourcolleague,Dr.Watson.Imayappealtoyourpatriotismalso,forIcouldnotimagineagreatermisfortuneforthecountrythanthatthisaffairshouldcomeout.”
“Youmaysafelytrustus.”
“Theletter,then,isfromacertainforeignpotentatewhohasbeenruffledbysomerecentColonialdevelopmentsofthiscountry.Ithasbeenwrittenhurriedlyanduponhisownresponsibilityentirely.InquirieshaveshownthathisMinistersknownothingofthematter.Atthesametimeitiscouchedinsounfortunateamanner,andcertainphrasesinitareofsoprovocativeacharacter,thatitspublicationwouldundoubtedlyleadtoamostdangerousstateoffeelinginthiscountry.
