Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The “Gloria Scott”
Butiftheblowfallswhichisforeverhangingoverme,thenIshouldwishyoutoreadthis,thatyoumayknowstraightfrommehowfarIhavebeentoblame.Ontheotherhand,ifallshouldgowell(whichmaykindGodAlmightygrant!),then,ifbyanychancethispapershouldbestillundestroyedandshouldfallintoyourhands,Iconjureyou,byallyouholdsacred,bythememoryofyourdearmother,andbythelovewhichhasbeenbetweenus,tohurlitintothefireandtonevergiveonethoughttoitagain.
"‘Ifthenyoureyegoesontoreadthisline,IknowthatIshallalreadyhavebeenexposedanddraggedfrommyhome,or,asismorelikely,foryouknowthatmyheartisweak,belyingwithmytonguesealedforeverindeath.Ineithercasethetimeforsuppressionispast,andeverywordwhichItellyouisthenakedtruth,andthisIswearasIhopeformercy.
"‘Myname,dearlad,isnotTrevor.IwasJamesArmitageinmyyoungerdays,andyoucanunderstandnowtheshockthatitwastomeafewweeksagowhenyourcollegefriendaddressedmeinwordswhichseemedtoimplythathehadsurprisedmysecret.AsArmitageitwasthatIenteredaLondonbanking-house,andasArmitageIwasconvictedofbreakingmycountry’slaws,andwassentencedtotransportation.Donotthinkveryharshlyofme,laddie.Itwasadebtofhonour,socalled,whichIhadtopay,andIusedmoneywhichwasnotmyowntodoit,inthecertaintythatIcouldreplaceitbeforetherecouldbeanypossibilityofitsbeingmissed.
