Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Musgrave Ritual
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"Youcanimagine,Watson,withwhateagernessIlistenedtothisextraordinarysequenceofevents,andendeavouredtopiecethemtogether,andtodevisesomecommonthreaduponwhichtheymightallhang.Thebutlerwasgone.Themaidwasgone.Themaidhadlovedthebutler,buthadafterwardshadcausetohatehim.ShewasofWelshblood,fieryandpassionate.Shehadbeenterriblyexcitedimmediatelyafterhisdisappearance.Shehadflungintothelakeabagcontainingsomecuriouscontents.Thesewereallfactorswhichhadtobetakenintoconsideration,andyetnoneofthemgotquitetotheheartofthematter.Whatwasthestarting-pointofthischainofevents?Therelaytheendofthistangledline.
"‘Imustseethatpaper,Musgrave,"saidI,‘whichthisbutlerofyoursthoughtitworthhiswhiletoconsult,evenattheriskofthelossofhisplace.’
"‘Itisratheranabsurdbusiness,thisritualofours,"heanswered.‘Butithasatleastthesavinggraceofantiquitytoexcuseit.Ihaveacopyofthequestionsandanswershereifyoucaretorunyoureyeoverthem.’
"HehandedmetheverypaperwhichIhavehere,Watson,andthisisthestrangecatechismtowhicheachMusgravehadtosubmitwhenhecametoman’sestate.Iwillreadyouthequestionsandanswersastheystand.
"‘Whosewasit?’
"‘Hiswhoisgone.’
"‘Whoshallhaveit?’
"‘Hewhowillcome.
