Этюд в багровых тонах
A Continuation of the Reminiscences of John Watson, M.D.
Hespokeinacalmandmethodicalmanner,asthoughtheeventswhichhenarratedwerecommonplaceenough. Icanvouchfortheaccuracyofthesubjoinedaccount,forIhavehadaccesstoLestrade’snote-book,inwhichtheprisoner’swordsweretakendownexactlyastheywereuttered.
“Itdon’tmuchmattertoyouwhyIhatedthesemen,”hesaid;“it’senoughthattheywereguiltyofthedeathoftwohumanbeings—afatherandadaughter—andthattheyhad,therefore,forfeitedtheirownlives. Afterthelapseoftimethathaspassedsincetheircrime,itwasimpossibleformetosecureaconvictionagainsttheminanycourt. Iknewoftheirguiltthough,andIdeterminedthatIshouldbejudge,jury,andexecutionerallrolledintoone. You’dhavedonethesame,ifyouhaveanymanhoodinyou,ifyouhadbeeninmyplace.
“ThatgirlthatIspokeofwastohavemarriedmetwentyyearsago. ShewasforcedintomarryingthatsameDrebber,andbrokeherheartoverit. Itookthemarriageringfromherdeadfinger,andIvowedthathisdyingeyesshouldrestuponthatveryring,andthathislastthoughtsshouldbeofthecrimeforwhichhewaspunished. Ihavecarrieditaboutwithme,andhavefollowedhimandhisaccompliceovertwocontinentsuntilIcaughtthem. Theythoughttotiremeout,buttheycouldnotdoit. IfIdieto-morrow,asislikelyenough,Idieknowingthatmyworkinthisworldisdone,andwelldone. Theyhaveperished,andbymyhand. Thereisnothingleftformetohopefor,ortodesire.
