Собака Баскервіллів
Fixing the Nets
Iwishtobeperfectlyfrankwithyou,Mrs.Lyons. Weregardthiscaseasoneofmurder,andtheevidencemayimplicatenotonlyyourfriendMr.Stapleton,buthiswifeaswell."
Theladysprangfromherchair.
"Hiswife!"shecried.
"Thefactisnolongerasecret. Thepersonwhohaspassedforhissisterisreallyhiswife."
Mrs.Lyonshadresumedherseat. Herhandsweregraspingthearmsofherchair,andIsawthatthepinknailshadturnedwhitewiththepressureofhergrip.
"Hiswife!"shesaidagain. "Hiswife! Heisnotamarriedman."
SherlockHolmesshruggedhisshoulders.
"Proveittome! Proveittome! Andifyoucandoso— "Thefierceflashofhereyessaidmorethananywords.
"Ihavecomepreparedtodoso,"saidHolmes,drawingseveralpapersfromhispocket. "HereisaphotographofthecoupletakeninYorkfouryearsago. Itisindorsed‘Mr.andMrs.Vandeleur,’butyouwillhavenodifficultyinrecognizinghim,andheralso,ifyouknowherbysight. HerearethreewrittendescriptionsbytrustworthywitnessesofMr.andMrs.Vandeleur,whoatthattimekeptSt.Oliver’sprivateschool. Readthemandseeifyoucandoubttheidentityofthesepeople."
Sheglancedatthem,andthenlookedupatuswiththeset,rigidfaceofadesperatewoman.
