Знак чотирьох
V. The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge
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SherlockHolmestookthelampandledtheway,forThaddeusSholto’steethwerechatteringinhishead.SoshakenwashethatIhadtopassmyhandunderhisarmaswewentupthestairs,forhiskneesweretremblingunderhim.TwiceasweascendedHolmeswhippedhislensoutofhispocketandcarefullyexaminedmarkswhichappearedtometobemereshapelesssmudgesofdustuponthecocoa-nutmattingwhichservedasastair-carpet.Hewalkedslowlyfromsteptostep,holdingthelamp,andshootingkeenglancestorightandleft.MissMorstanhadremainedbehindwiththefrightenedhousekeeper.
Thethirdflightofstairsendedinastraightpassageofsomelength,withagreatpictureinIndiantapestryupontherightofitandthreedoorsupontheleft.Holmesadvancedalongitinthesameslowandmethodicalway,whilewekeptcloseathisheels,withourlongblackshadowsstreamingbackwardsdownthecorridor.Thethirddoorwasthatwhichwewereseeking.Holmesknockedwithoutreceivinganyanswer,andthentriedtoturnthehandleandforceitopen.Itwaslockedontheinside,however,andbyabroadandpowerfulbolt,aswecouldseewhenwesetourlampupagainstit.Thekeybeingturned,however,theholewasnotentirelyclosed.SherlockHolmesbentdowntoit,andinstantlyroseagainwithasharpintakingofthebreath.
“Thereissomethingdevilishinthis,Watson,”saidhe,moremovedthanIhadeverbeforeseenhim.“Whatdoyoumakeofit?”
Istoopedtothehole,andrecoiledinhorror.Moonlightwasstreamingintotheroom,anditwasbrightwithavagueandshiftyradiance.
