Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Five Orange Pips
"‘Death,’saidhe,andrisingfromthetableheretiredtohisroom,leavingmepalpitatingwithhorror. Itookuptheenvelopeandsawscrawledinredinkupontheinnerflap,justabovethegum,theletterKthreetimesrepeated. Therewasnothingelsesavethefivedriedpips. Whatcouldbethereasonofhisoverpoweringterror? Ileftthebreakfast-table,andasIascendedthestairImethimcomingdownwithanoldrustykey,whichmusthavebelongedtotheattic,inonehand,andasmallbrassbox,likeacashbox,intheother.
"‘Theymaydowhattheylike,butI’llcheckmatethemstill,’saidhewithanoath. ‘TellMarythatIshallwantafireinmyroomto-day,andsenddowntoFordham,theHorshamlawyer.’
"Ididasheordered,andwhenthelawyerarrivedIwasaskedtostepuptotheroom. Thefirewasburningbrightly,andinthegratetherewasamassofblack,fluffyashes,asofburnedpaper,whilethebrassboxstoodopenandemptybesideit. AsIglancedattheboxInoticed,withastart,thatuponthelidwasprintedthetrebleKwhichIhadreadinthemorningupontheenvelope.
"‘Iwishyou,John,’saidmyuncle,‘towitnessmywill. Ileavemyestate,withallitsadvantagesandallitsdisadvantages,tomybrother,yourfather,whenceitwill,nodoubt,descendtoyou. Ifyoucanenjoyitinpeace,wellandgood! Ifyoufindyoucannot,takemyadvice,myboy,andleaveittoyourdeadliestenemy. Iamsorrytogiveyousuchatwo-edgedthing,butIcan’tsaywhatturnthingsaregoingtotake. KindlysignthepaperwhereMr.Fordhamshowsyou.’
"Isignedthepaperasdirected,andthelawyertookitawaywithhim. Thesingularincidentmade,asyoumaythink,thedeepestimpressionuponme,andIponderedoveritandturnediteverywayinmymindwithoutbeingabletomakeanythingofit.
