Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса

           "Didthestable-boy,whenheranoutwiththedog,leavethedoorunlockedbehindhim?"

           "Excellent,Watson,excellent!"murmuredmycompanion."TheimportanceofthepointstruckmesoforciblythatIsentaspecialwiretoDartmooryesterdaytoclearthematterup.Theboylockedthedoorbeforeheleftit.Thewindow,Imayadd,wasnotlargeenoughforamantogetthrough.

           "Hunterwaiteduntilhisfellow-groomshadreturned,whenhesentamessagetothetrainerandtoldhimwhathadoccurred.Strakerwasexcitedathearingtheaccount,althoughhedoesnotseemtohavequiterealizeditstruesignificance.Itlefthim,however,vaguelyuneasy,andMrs.Straker,wakingatoneinthemorning,foundthathewasdressing.Inreplytoherinquiries,hesaidthathecouldnotsleeponaccountofhisanxietyaboutthehorses,andthatheintendedtowalkdowntothestablestoseethatallwaswell.Shebeggedhimtoremainathome,asshecouldheartherainpatteringagainstthewindow,butinspiteofherentreatieshepulledonhislargemackintoshandleftthehouse.

           "Mrs.Strakerawokeatseveninthemorningtofindthatherhusbandhadnotyetreturned.Shedressedherselfhastily,calledthemaid,andsetoffforthestables.Thedoorwasopen;inside,huddledtogetheruponachair,Hunterwassunkinastateofabsolutestupor,thefavourite’sstallwasempty,andtherewerenosignsofhistrainer.