Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           Iftheladylovesherhusband,shedoesnotloveyourMajesty.IfshedoesnotloveyourMajesty,thereisnoreasonwhysheshouldinterferewithyourMajesty’splan." 

           "Itistrue. AndyetWell! Iwishshehadbeenofmyownstation! Whataqueenshewouldhavemade!" Herelapsedintoamoodysilence,whichwasnotbrokenuntilwedrewupinSerpentineAvenue. 

           ThedoorofBrionyLodgewasopen,andanelderlywomanstooduponthesteps. Shewatcheduswithasardoniceyeaswesteppedfromthebrougham. "Mr.SherlockHolmes,Ibelieve?"saidshe. 

           "IamMr.Holmes,"answeredmycompanion,lookingatherwithaquestioningandratherstartledgaze. 

           "Indeed! Mymistresstoldmethatyouwerelikelytocall. Sheleftthismorningwithherhusbandbythe5:15trainfromCharingCrossfortheContinent." 

           "What!"SherlockHolmesstaggeredback,whitewithchagrinandsurprise. "DoyoumeanthatshehasleftEngland?" 

           "Nevertoreturn." 

           "Andthepapers?"askedtheKinghoarsely."Allislost." 

           "Weshallsee."Hepushedpasttheservantandrushedintothedrawing-room,followedbytheKingandmyself. Thefurniturewasscatteredaboutineverydirection,withdismantledshelvesandopendrawers,asiftheladyhadhurriedlyransackedthembeforeherflight. Holmesrushedatthebell-pull,torebackasmallslidingshutter,and,plunginginhishand,pulledoutaphotographandaletter.