Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Second Stain
Hadhereadthatletterhisconfidencewouldhavebeenforeverdestroyed.ItisyearssinceIwroteit.Ihadthoughtthatthewholematterwasforgotten.ThenatlastIheardfromthisman,Lucas,thatithadpassedintohishands,andthathewouldlayitbeforemyhusband.Iimploredhismercy.HesaidthathewouldreturnmyletterifIwouldbringhimacertaindocumentwhichhedescribedinmyhusband’sdespatch-box.Hehadsomespyintheofficewhohadtoldhimofitsexistence.Heassuredmethatnoharmcouldcometomyhusband.Putyourselfinmyposition,Mr.Holmes!WhatwasItodo?”
“Takeyourhusbandintoyourconfidence.”
“Icouldnot,Mr.Holmes,Icouldnot!Ontheonesideseemedcertainruin,ontheother,terribleasitseemedtotakemyhusband’spaper,stillinamatterofpoliticsIcouldnotunderstandtheconsequences,whileinamatterofloveandtrusttheywereonlytoocleartome.Ididit,Mr.Holmes!Itookanimpressionofhiskey.Thisman,Lucas,furnishedaduplicate.Iopenedhisdespatch-box,tookthepaper,andconveyedittoGodolphinStreet.”
“Whathappenedthere,madam?”
“Itappedatthedoorasagreed.Lucasopenedit.Ifollowedhimintohisroom,leavingthehalldoorajarbehindme,forIfearedtobealonewiththeman.IrememberthattherewasawomanoutsideasIentered.Ourbusinesswassoondone.Hehadmyletteronhisdesk,Ihandedhimthedocument.Hegavemetheletter.Atthisinstanttherewasasoundatthedoor.Therewerestepsinthepassage.
