Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Boscombe Valley Mystery
"Hisson,yousee,hadgrownup,andsohadmygirl,andasIwasknowntobeinweakhealth,itseemedafinestroketohimthathisladshouldstepintothewholeproperty. ButthereIwasfirm. Iwouldnothavehiscursedstockmixedwithmine; notthatIhadanydisliketothelad,buthisbloodwasinhim,andthatwasenough. Istoodfirm. McCarthythreatened.Ibravedhimtodohisworst. Weweretomeetatthepoolmidwaybetweenourhousestotalkitover.
"WhenwewentdownthereIfoundhimtalkingwithhisson,sosmokedacigarandwaitedbehindatreeuntilheshouldbealone. ButasIlistenedtohistalkallthatwasblackandbitterinmeseemedtocomeuppermost. Hewasurginghissontomarrymydaughterwithaslittleregardforwhatshemightthinkasifshewereaslutfromoffthestreets. ItdrovememadtothinkthatIandallthatIheldmostdearshouldbeinthepowerofsuchamanasthis. CouldInotsnapthebond? Iwasalreadyadyingandadesperateman. Thoughclearofmindandfairlystrongoflimb,Iknewthatmyownfatewassealed. Butmymemoryandmygirl! BothcouldbesavedifIcouldbutsilencethatfoultongue. Ididit,Mr.Holmes. Iwoulddoitagain. DeeplyasIhavesinned,Ihaveledalifeofmartyrdomtoatoneforit. ButthatmygirlshouldbeentangledinthesamemesheswhichheldmewasmorethanIcouldsuffer. Istruckhimdownwithnomorecompunctionthanifhehadbeensomefoulandvenomousbeast. Hiscrybroughtbackhisson;butIhadgainedthecoverofthewood,thoughIwasforcedtogobacktofetchthecloakwhichIhaddroppedinmyflight. Thatisthetruestory,gentlemen,ofallthatoccurred."
"Well,itisnotformetojudgeyou,"saidHolmesastheoldmansignedthestatementwhichhadbeendrawnout. "Ipraythatwemayneverbeexposedtosuchatemptation."
