Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Boscombe Valley Mystery
TheCoroner: Thatisforthecourttodecide. Ineednotpointouttoyouthatyourrefusaltoanswerwillprejudiceyourcaseconsiderablyinanyfutureproceedingswhichmayarise.
Witness: Imuststillrefuse.
TheCoroner: Iunderstandthatthecryof"Cooee"wasacommonsignalbetweenyouandyourfather?
Witness: Itwas.
TheCoroner: Howwasit,then,thatheuttereditbeforehesawyou,andbeforeheevenknewthatyouhadreturnedfromBristol?
Witness(withconsiderableconfusion): Idonotknow.
AJuryman: Didyouseenothingwhicharousedyoursuspicionswhenyoureturnedonhearingthecryandfoundyourfatherfatallyinjured?
Witness: Nothingdefinite.
TheCoroner: Whatdoyoumean?
Witness: IwassodisturbedandexcitedasIrushedoutintotheopen,thatIcouldthinkofnothingexceptofmyfather. YetIhaveavagueimpressionthatasIranforwardsomethinglayuponthegroundtotheleftofme. Itseemedtometobesomethinggrayincolour,acoatofsomesort,oraplaidperhaps. WhenIrosefrommyfatherIlookedroundforit,butitwasgone.
"Doyoumeanthatitdisappearedbeforeyouwentforhelp?"
"Yes,itwasgone."