Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Second Stain
Ibroughtthepaperbackwithme,andthoughtofdestroyingit,sinceIcouldseenowayofreturningitwithoutconfessingmyguilttomyhusband.Heavens,Ihearhisstepuponthestair!”
TheEuropeanSecretaryburstexcitedlyintotheroom.“Anynews,Mr.Holmes,anynews?”hecried.
“Ihavesomehopes.”
“Ah,thankheaven!”Hisfacebecameradiant.“ThePrimeMinisterislunchingwithme.Mayheshareyourhopes?Hehasnervesofsteel,andyetIknowthathehashardlysleptsincethisterribleevent.Jacobs,willyouaskthePrimeMinistertocomeup?Astoyou,dear,Ifearthatthisisamatterofpolitics.Wewilljoinyouinafewminutesinthedining-room.”
ThePrimeMinister’smannerwassubdued,butIcouldseebythegleamofhiseyesandthetwitchingsofhisbonyhandsthathesharedtheexcitementofhisyoungcolleague.
“Iunderstandthatyouhavesomethingtoreport,Mr.Holmes?”
“Purelynegativeasyet,”myfriendanswered.“Ihaveinquiredateverypointwhereitmightbe,andIamsurethatthereisnodangertobeapprehended.”
“Butthatisnotenough,Mr.Holmes.Wecannotliveforeveronsuchavolcano.Wemusthavesomethingdefinite.”
“Iaminhopesofgettingit.ThatiswhyIamhere.ThemoreIthinkofthematterthemoreconvincedIamthattheletterhasneverleftthishouse.”
“Mr.Holmes!”
“Ifithaditwouldcertainlyhavebeenpublicbynow.”
“Butwhyshouldanyonetakeitinordertokeepitinhishouse?”
“Iamnotconvincedthatanyonedidtakeit.
