Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Reigate Puzzle
"WhenIrecoveredImanaged,byadevicewhichhadperhapssomelittlemeritofingenuity,togetoldCunninghamtowritetheword‘twelve,"sothatImightcompareitwiththe‘twelve"uponthepaper."
"Oh,whatanassIhavebeen!"Iexclaimed.
"Icouldseethatyouwerecommiseratingmeovermyweakness,"saidHolmes,laughing."IwassorrytocauseyouthesympatheticpainwhichIknowthatyoufelt.Wethenwentupstairstogether,and,havingenteredtheroomandseenthedressing-gownhangingupbehindthedoor,Icontrived,byupsettingatable,toengagetheirattentionforthemomentandslippedbacktoexaminethepockets.Ihadhardlygotthepaper,however—whichwas,asIhadexpected,inoneofthem—whenthetwoCunninghamswereonme,andwould,Iverilybelieve,havemurderedmethenandtherebutforyourpromptandfriendlyaid.Asitis,Ifeelthatyoungman’sgriponmythroatnow,andthefatherhastwistedmywristroundintheefforttogetthepaperoutofmyhand.TheysawthatImustknowallaboutit,yousee,andthesuddenchangefromabsolutesecuritytocompletedespairmadethemperfectlydesperate.
"IhadalittletalkwitholdCunninghamafterwardsastothemotiveofthecrime.Hewastractableenough,thoughhissonwasaperfectdemon,readytoblowouthisownoranybodyelse’sbrainsifhecouldhavegottohisrevolver.WhenCunninghamsawthatthecaseagainsthimwassostronghelostallheartandmadeacleanbreastofeverything.
