Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Boscombe Valley Mystery
IwishtotheLordthatIhadshothimthen,butIsparedhim,thoughIsawhiswickedlittleeyesfixedonmyface,asthoughtoremembereveryfeature. Wegotawaywiththegold,becamewealthymen,andmadeourwayovertoEnglandwithoutbeingsuspected. ThereIpartedfrommyoldpalsanddeterminedtosettledowntoaquietandrespectablelife. Iboughtthisestate,whichchancedtobeinthemarket,andIsetmyselftodoalittlegoodwithmymoney,tomakeupforthewayinwhichIhadearnedit. Imarried,too,andthoughmywifediedyoungsheleftmemydearlittleAlice. Evenwhenshewasjustababyherweehandseemedtoleadmedowntherightpathasnothingelsehadeverdone. Inaword,Iturnedoveranewleafanddidmybesttomakeupforthepast. AllwasgoingwellwhenMcCarthylaidhisgripuponme.
"Ihadgoneuptotownaboutaninvestment,andImethiminRegentStreetwithhardlyacoattohisbackoraboottohisfoot.
"‘Hereweare,Jack,’sayshe,touchingmeonthearm;‘we’llbeasgoodasafamilytoyou. There’stwoofus,meandmyson,andyoucanhavethekeepingofus. Ifyoudon’t—it’safine,law-abidingcountryisEngland,andthere’salwaysapolicemanwithinhail.’
"Well,downtheycametothewestcountry,therewasnoshakingthemoff,andtheretheyhavelivedrentfreeonmybestlandeversince. Therewasnorestforme,nopeace,noforgetfulness; turnwhereIwould,therewashiscunning,grinningfaceatmyelbow. ItgrewworseasAlicegrewup,forhesoonsawIwasmoreafraidofherknowingmypastthanofthepolice. Whateverhewantedhemusthave,andwhateveritwasIgavehimwithoutquestion,land,money,houses,untilatlastheaskedathingwhichIcouldnotgive. HeaskedforAlice.
