Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Boscombe Valley Mystery
"Ipraynot,sir.Andwhatdoyouintendtodo?"
"Inviewofyourhealth,nothing. YouareyourselfawarethatyouwillsoonhavetoanswerforyourdeedatahighercourtthantheAssizes. Iwillkeepyourconfession,andifMcCarthyiscondemnedIshallbeforcedtouseit. Ifnot,itshallneverbeseenbymortaleye;andyoursecret,whetheryoubealiveordead,shallbesafewithus."
"Farewell,then,"saidtheoldmansolemnly. "Yourowndeathbeds,whentheycome,willbetheeasierforthethoughtofthepeacewhichyouhavegiventomine." Totteringandshakinginallhisgiantframe,hestumbledslowlyfromtheroom.
"Godhelpus!"saidHolmesafteralongsilence. "Whydoesfateplaysuchtrickswithpoor,helplessworms? IneverhearofsuchacaseasthisthatIdonotthinkofBaxter’swords,andsay,‘There,butforthegraceofGod,goesSherlockHolmes.’"
JamesMcCarthywasacquittedattheAssizesonthestrengthofanumberofobjectionswhichhadbeendrawnoutbyHolmesandsubmittedtothedefendingcounsel. OldTurnerlivedforsevenmonthsafterourinterview,butheisnowdead; andthereiseveryprospectthatthesonanddaughtermaycometolivehappilytogetherinignoranceoftheblackcloudwhichrestsupontheirpast.
