Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           TherewasnotasoultheresavethetwowhomIhadfollowedandasurplicedclergyman,whoseemedtobeexpostulatingwiththem. Theywereallthreestandinginaknotinfrontofthealtar. Iloungedupthesideaislelikeanyotheridlerwhohasdroppedintoachurch. Suddenly,tomysurprise,thethreeatthealtarfacedroundtome,andGodfreyNortoncamerunningashardashecouldtowardsme. 

           "‘ThankGod,’hecried.‘You’lldo.Come!Come!’ 

           "‘Whatthen?’Iasked. 

           "‘Come,man,come,onlythreeminutes,oritwon’tbelegal.’ 

           "Iwashalf-draggeduptothealtar,andbeforeIknewwhereIwasIfoundmyselfmumblingresponseswhichwerewhisperedinmyear,andvouchingforthingsofwhichIknewnothing,andgenerallyassistinginthesecuretyingupofIreneAdler,spinster,toGodfreyNorton,bachelor. Itwasalldoneinaninstant,andtherewasthegentlemanthankingmeontheonesideandtheladyontheother,whiletheclergymanbeamedonmeinfront. ItwasthemostpreposterouspositioninwhichIeverfoundmyselfinmylife,anditwasthethoughtofitthatstartedmelaughingjustnow. Itseemsthattherehadbeensomeinformalityabouttheirlicense,thattheclergymanabsolutelyrefusedtomarrythemwithoutawitnessofsomesort,andthatmyluckyappearancesavedthebridegroomfromhavingtosallyoutintothestreetsinsearchofabestman. Thebridegavemeasovereign,andImeantowearitonmywatch-chaininmemoryoftheoccasion." 

           "Thisisaveryunexpectedturnofaffairs,"saidl;"andwhatthen?" 

           "Well,Ifoundmyplansveryseriouslymenaced. Itlookedasifthepairmighttakeanimmediatedeparture,andsonecessitateverypromptandenergeticmeasuresonmypart.