Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Second Stain
Atpresentsheisunabletogiveanycoherentaccountofthepast,andthedoctorsholdoutnohopesofthereestablishmentofherreason.Thereisevidencethatawoman,whomighthavebeenMme.Fournaye,wasseenforsomehoursuponMondaynightwatchingthehouseinGodolphinStreet.
“Whatdoyouthinkofthat,Holmes?”Ihadreadtheaccountaloudtohim,whilehefinishedhisbreakfast.
“MydearWatson,”saidhe,asherosefromthetableandpacedupanddowntheroom,“Youaremostlong-suffering,butifIhavetoldyounothinginthelastthreedays,itisbecausethereisnothingtotell.EvennowthisreportfromParisdoesnothelpusmuch.”
“Surelyitisfinalasregardstheman’sdeath.”
“Theman’sdeathisamereincident—atrivialepisode—incomparisonwithourrealtask,whichistotracethisdocumentandsaveaEuropeancatastrophe.Onlyoneimportantthinghashappenedinthelastthreedays,andthatisthatnothinghashappened.Igetreportsalmosthourlyfromthegovernment,anditiscertainthatnowhereinEuropeisthereanysignoftrouble.Now,ifthisletterwereloose—no,itcan’tbeloose—butifitisn’tloose,wherecanitbe?Whohasit?Whyisitheldback?That’sthequestionthatbeatsinmybrainlikeahammer.
