Убить пересмешника

           "Didyouever,"Atticusinterruptedmymeditations,"atanytime,goontheEwellproperty—didyoueversetfootontheEwellpropertywithoutanexpressinvitationfromoneofthem?"

           "Nosuh,Mr.Finch,Ineverdid.Iwouldn’tdothat,suh."

           Atticussometimessaidthatonewaytotellwhetherawitnesswaslyingortellingthetruthwastolistenratherthanwatch:Iappliedhistest—Tomdenieditthreetimesinonebreath,butquietly,withnohintofwhininginhisvoice,andIfoundmyselfbelievinghiminspiteofhisprotestingtoomuch.HeseemedtobearespectableNegro,andarespectableNegrowouldnevergoupintosomebody’syardofhisownvolition.

           "Tom,whathappenedtoyouontheeveningofNovembertwenty-firstoflastyear?"

           Belowus,thespectatorsdrewacollectivebreathandleanedforward.Behindus,theNegroesdidthesame.

           Tomwasablack-velvetNegro,notshiny,butsoftblackvelvet.Thewhitesofhiseyesshoneinhisface,andwhenhespokewesawflashesofhisteeth.Ifhehadbeenwhole,hewouldhavebeenafinespecimenofaman.

           "Mr.Finch,"hesaid,"Iwasgoin’homeasusualthatevenin’,an’whenIpassedtheEwellplaceMissMayellawereontheporch,likeshesaidshewere.Itseemedrealquietlike,an’Ididn’tquiteknowwhy.Iwasstudyin’why,justpassin’by,whenshesaysformetocomethereandhelpheraminute.