Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
Wecouldnotleaveherlyingwoundeduponthefloor.”
“Howlonghaveyoubeenhere,Doctor?”
“Sincefouro’clock.”
“Anyoneelse?”
“Yes,theconstablehere.”
“Andyouhavetouchednothing?”
“Nothing.”
“Youhaveactedwithgreatdiscretion.Whosentforyou?”
“Thehousemaid,Saunders.”
“Wasitshewhogavethealarm?”
“SheandMrs.King,thecook.”
“Wherearetheynow?”
“Inthekitchen,Ibelieve.”
“ThenIthinkwehadbetterheartheirstoryatonce.”
Theoldhall,oak-panelledandhigh-windowed,hadbeenturnedintoacourtofinvestigation.Holmessatinagreat,old-fashionedchair,hisinexorableeyesgleamingoutofhishaggardface.Icouldreadinthemasetpurposetodevotehislifetothisquestuntiltheclientwhomhehadfailedtosaveshouldatlastbeavenged.ThetrimInspectorMartin,theold,grey-headedcountrydoctor,myself,andastolidvillagepolicemanmadeuptherestofthatstrangecompany.
Thetwowomentoldtheirstoryclearlyenough.Theyhadbeenarousedfromtheirsleepbythesoundofanexplosion,whichhadbeenfollowedaminutelaterbyasecondone.Theysleptinadjoiningrooms,andMrs.KinghadrushedintoSaunders.Togethertheyhaddescendedthestairs.Thedoorofthestudywasopen,andacandlewasburninguponthetable.Theirmasterlayuponhisfaceinthecentreoftheroom.Hewasquitedead.Nearthewindowhiswifewascrouching,herheadleaningagainstthewall.Shewashorriblywounded,andthesideofherfacewasredwithblood.Shebreathedheavily,butwasincapableofsayinganything.
