Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Second Stain
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“Thenhowcoulditleavethedespatch-box?”
“Iamnotconvincedthatiteverdidleavethedespatch-box.”
“Mr.Holmes,thisjokingisveryill-timed.Youhavemyassurancethatitleftthebox.”
“HaveyouexaminedtheboxsinceTuesdaymorning?”
“No.Itwasnotnecessary.”
“Youmayconceivablyhaveoverlookedit.”
“Impossible,Isay.”
“ButIamnotconvincedofit.Ihaveknownsuchthingstohappen.Ipresumethereareotherpapersthere.Well,itmayhavegotmixedwiththem.”
“Itwasonthetop.”
“Someonemayhaveshakentheboxanddisplacedit.”
“No,no,Ihadeverythingout.”
“Surelyitiseasilydecided,Hope,”saidthePremier.“Letushavethedespatch-boxbroughtin.”
TheSecretaryrangthebell.
“Jacobs,bringdownmydespatch-box.Thisisafarcicalwasteoftime,butstill,ifnothingelsewillsatisfyyou,itshallbedone.Thankyou,Jacobs,putithere.Ihavealwayshadthekeyonmywatch-chain.Herearethepapers,yousee.LetterfromLordMerrow,reportfromSirCharlesHardy,memorandumfromBelgrade,noteontheRusso-Germangraintaxes,letterfromMadrid,notefromLordFlowers——Goodheavens!whatisthis?LordBellinger!LordBellinger!”
ThePremiersnatchedtheblueenvelopefromhishand.
“Yes,itisit—andtheletterisintact.Hope,Icongratulateyou.”
“Thankyou!Thankyou!Whataweightfrommyheart.Butthisisinconceivable—impossible.Mr.Holmes,youareawizard,asorcerer!Howdidyouknowitwasthere?”
“BecauseIknewitwasnowhereelse.”
“Icannotbelievemyeyes!”Heranwildlytothedoor
