Приключения Шерлока Холмса / The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (сборник) - стр. 12
“Is this the window of the room in which you used to sleep[21], the central one of your sister’s, and the next of Dr. Roylott’s room?”
“Yes. But I am now sleeping in the middle room.”
“There are some repairs, as I understand. By the way, I cannot see any very pressing need for repairs in this part of the house.”
“You are right. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from my room.”
“Ah! that is interesting. These three rooms open into a corridor. There are windows in it, of course?”
“Yes, but very small ones. Too small for anyone to get in.”
“As you both locked your doors at night, no one could get into your rooms from that side. Now, go into your room and shut your window.”
Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination, attempted in every way to force the window open, but without any result. “Hum!” said he, “No one could get into the room from here. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon the matter.”
We went to the corridor from which the three bedrooms opened. We passed at once to the second room, in which Miss Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met her end. It was a little room, with a low ceiling and a big fireplace, like in many old country-houses. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat silent, while his eyes travelled round and round the room.
“Where does that bell go to?” he asked at last, pointing to a bell-rope which hung down beside the bed.
“It goes to the housekeeper’s room.”
“It looks newer than the other things.”
“Yes, it was only put there two years ago.”
“Your sister asked for it?”
“No, she never used it. We always got what we wanted ourselves.”
“It seemed unnecessary to put a bell-rope there. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I examine this floor.” He examined carefully the floor with his lens in his hand, then he did the same with the walls. Finally he walked over to the bed and spent some time looking at it and at the wall. Finally he took the bell-rope in his hand and pulled it.
“It won’t ring[22],” said he. “It is not connected to anything. This is very interesting. You can see now that it is fastened above a little opening for the ventilator.”
“How very strange! I never noticed that before.”
“Very strange!” answered Holmes, pulling at the rope. “There are one or two very unusual things about this room. For example, the ventilator opens into another room, when it might have opened on the outside![23]”
“That is also quite modern,” said the lady.
“Was it done about the same time as the bell-rope?” asked Holmes.