Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Second Stain
Itwaseasier,therefore,forLucasthanfortheotherstoestablishaconnectionorreceiveamessagefromtheEuropeanSecretary’shousehold—asmallthing,andyetwhereeventsarecompressedintoafewhoursitmayproveessential.Halloa!whathavewehere?”
Mrs.Hudsonhadappearedwithalady’scarduponhersalver.Holmesglancedatit,raisedhiseyebrows,andhandeditovertome.
“AskLadyHildaTrelawneyHopeifshewillbekindenoughtostepup,”saidhe.
Amomentlaterourmodestapartment,alreadysodistinguishedthatmorning,wasfurtherhonouredbytheentranceofthemostlovelywomaninLondon.IhadoftenheardofthebeautyoftheyoungestdaughteroftheDukeofBelminster,butnodescriptionofit,andnocontemplationofcolourlessphotographs,hadpreparedmeforthesubtle,delicatecharmandthebeautifulcolouringofthatexquisitehead.Andyetaswesawitthatautumnmorning,itwasnotitsbeautywhichwouldbethefirstthingtoimpresstheobserver.Thecheekwaslovelybutitwaspaledwithemotion,theeyeswerebrightbutitwasthebrightnessoffever,thesensitivemouthwastightanddrawninaneffortafterself-command.Terror—notbeauty—waswhatsprangfirsttotheeyeasourfairvisitorstoodframedforaninstantintheopendoor.
“Hasmyhusbandbeenhere,Mr.Holmes?”
“Yes,madam,hehasbeenhere.”
“Mr.Holmes.IimploreyounottotellhimthatIcamehere.”Holmesbowedcoldly,andmotionedtheladytoachair.
“Yourladyshipplacesmeinaverydelicateposition.
