Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Crooked Man
Somuchthewomanwasabletotellme,andalsothatitwasawonderthemanlived,seeinghowtwistedhewas,andthathespokeinastrangetonguesometimes,andthatforthelasttwonightsshehadheardhimgroaningandweepinginhisbedroom.Hewasallright,asfarasmoneywent,butinhisdeposithehadgivenherwhatlookedlikeabadflorin.Sheshowedittome,Watson,anditwasanIndianrupee.
"Sonow,mydearfellow,youseeexactlyhowwestandandwhyitisIwantyou.Itisperfectlyplainthataftertheladiespartedfromthismanhefollowedthematadistance,thathesawthequarrelbetweenhusbandandwifethroughthewindow,thatherushedin,andthatthecreaturewhichhecarriedinhisboxgotloose.Thatisallverycertain.Butheistheonlypersoninthisworldwhocantellusexactlywhathappenedinthatroom."
"Andyouintendtoaskhim?"
"Mostcertainly—butinthepresenceofawitness."
"AndIamthewitness?"
"Ifyouwillbesogood.Ifhecanclearthematterup,wellandgood.Ifherefuses,wehavenoalternativebuttoapplyforawarrant."
"Buthowdoyouknowhe’llbetherewhenwereturn?"
"YoumaybesurethatItooksomeprecautions.IhaveoneofmyBakerStreetboysmountingguardoverhimwhowouldsticktohimlikeaburr,gowherehemight.WeshallfindhiminHudsonStreetto-morrow,Watson,andmeanwhileIshouldbethecriminalmyselfifIkeptyououtofbedanylonger.
