Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The “Gloria Scott”
We’llseeaboutthat!"
"‘Heslouchedoutoftheroomandhalfanhourafterwardsleftthehouse,leavingmyfatherinastateofpitiablenervousness.NightafternightIheardhimpacinghisroom,anditwasjustashewasrecoveringhisconfidencethattheblowdidatlastfall.’
"‘Andhow?"Iaskedeagerly.
"‘Inamostextraordinaryfashion.Aletterarrivedformyfatheryesterdayevening,bearingtheFordinghampostmark.Myfatherreadit,clappedbothhishandstohishead,andbeganrunningroundtheroominlittlecircleslikeamanwhohasbeendrivenoutofhissenses.WhenIatlastdrewhimdownontothesofa,hismouthandeyelidswereallpuckeredononeside,andIsawthathehadastroke.Dr.Fordhamcameoveratonce.Weputhimtobed,buttheparalysishasspread,hehasshownnosignofreturningconsciousness,andIthinkthatweshallhardlyfindhimalive.’
"‘Youhorrifyme,Trevor!"Icried.‘Whatthencouldhavebeeninthislettertocausesodreadfularesult?’
"‘Nothing.Thereliestheinexplicablepartofit.Themessagewasabsurdandtrivial.Ah,myGod,itisasIfeared!’
"Ashespokewecameroundthecurveoftheavenueandsawinthefadinglightthateveryblindinthehousehadbeendrawndown.Aswedasheduptothedoor,myfriend’sfaceconvulsedwithgrief,agentlemaninblackemergedfromit.
"‘Whendidithappen,doctor?"askedTrevor.
