Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Second Stain
Ibegthatyouwillsitdownandtellmewhatyoudesire,butIfearthatIcannotmakeanyunconditionalpromise.”
Shesweptacrosstheroomandseatedherselfwithherbacktothewindow.Itwasaqueenlypresence—tall,graceful,andintenselywomanly.“Mr.Holmes,”shesaid—andherwhite-glovedhandsclaspedandunclaspedasshespoke—“Iwillspeakfranklytoyouinthehopesthatitmayinduceyoutospeakfranklyinreturn.Thereiscompleteconfidencebetweenmyhusbandandmeonallmatterssaveone.Thatoneispolitics.Onthishislipsaresealed.Hetellsmenothing.Now,Iamawarethattherewasamostdeplorableoccurrenceinourhouselastnight.Iknowthatapaperhasdisappeared.Butbecausethematterispoliticalmyhusbandrefusestotakemeintohiscompleteconfidence.Nowitisessential—essential,Isay—thatIshouldthoroughlyunderstandit.Youaretheonlyotherperson,saveonlythesepoliticians,whoknowsthetruefacts.Ibegyouthen,Mr.Holmes,totellmeexactlywhathashappenedandwhatitwillleadto.Tellmeall,Mr.Holmes.Letnoregardforyourclient’sinterestskeepyousilent,forIassureyouthathisinterests,ifhewouldonlyseeit,wouldbebestservedbytakingmeintohiscompleteconfidence.Whatwasthispaperwhichwasstolen?”
“Madam,whatyouaskmeisreallyimpossible.”
Shegroanedandsankherfaceinherhands.
“Youmustseethatthisisso,madam.
