Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
"IassuredhimthatIwasnotoffended. ‘Bytheway,’saidI,‘youseemtohavequiteasuiteofspareroomsupthere,andoneofthemhastheshuttersup.’
"Helookedsurprisedand,asitseemedtome,alittlestartledatmyremark.
"‘Photographyisoneofmyhobbies,’saidhe.‘Ihavemademydarkroomupthere. But,dearme!whatanobservantyoungladywehavecomeupon. Whowouldhavebelievedit?Whowouldhaveeverbelievedit?’ Hespokeinajestingtone,buttherewasnojestinhiseyesashelookedatme. Ireadsuspicionthereandannoyance,butnojest.
"Well,Mr.Holmes,fromthemomentthatIunderstoodthattherewassomethingaboutthatsuiteofroomswhichIwasnottoknow,Iwasallonfiretogooverthem. Itwasnotmerecuriosity,thoughIhavemyshareofthat. Itwasmoreafeelingofduty—afeelingthatsomegoodmightcomefrommypenetratingtothisplace. Theytalkofwoman’sinstinct; perhapsitwaswoman’sinstinctwhichgavemethatfeeling. Atanyrate,itwasthere,andIwaskeenlyonthelookoutforanychancetopasstheforbiddendoor.
"Itwasonlyyesterdaythatthechancecame. Imaytellyouthat,besidesMr.Rucastle,bothTollerandhiswifefindsomethingtodointhesedesertedrooms,andIoncesawhimcarryingalargeblacklinenbagwithhimthroughthedoor. Recentlyhehasbeendrinkinghard,andyesterdayeveninghewasverydrunk;andwhenIcameupstairstherewasthekeyinthedoor. Ihavenodoubtatallthathehadleftitthere. Mr.andMrs.Rucastlewerebothdownstairs,andthechildwaswiththem,sothatIhadanadmirableopportunity. Iturnedthekeygentlyinthelock,openedthedoor,andslippedthrough.
