Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Empty House
Hehadwaited,andthenmakinghiswayroundtothetopofthecliff,hehadendeavouredtosucceedwherehiscomradehadfailed.
“Ididnottakelongtothinkaboutit,Watson.AgainIsawthatgrimfacelookoverthecliff,andIknewthatitwastheprecursorofanotherstone.Iscrambleddownontothepath.Idon’tthinkIcouldhavedoneitincoldblood.Itwasahundredtimesmoredifficultthangettingup.ButIhadnotimetothinkofthedanger,foranotherstonesangpastmeasIhungbymyhandsfromtheedgeoftheledge.HalfwaydownIslipped,but,bytheblessingofGod,Ilanded,tornandbleeding,uponthepath.Itooktomyheels,didtenmilesoverthemountainsinthedarkness,andaweeklaterIfoundmyselfinFlorence,withthecertaintythatnooneintheworldknewwhathadbecomeofme.
“Ihadonlyoneconfidant—mybrotherMycroft.Ioweyoumanyapologies,mydearWatson,butitwasall-importantthatitshouldbethoughtIwasdead,anditisquitecertainthatyouwouldnothavewrittensoconvincinganaccountofmyunhappyendhadyounotyourselfthoughtthatitwastrue.SeveraltimesduringthelastthreeyearsIhavetakenupmypentowritetoyou,butalwaysIfearedlestyouraffectionateregardformeshouldtemptyoutosomeindiscretionwhichwouldbetraymysecret.ForthatreasonIturnedawayfromyouthiseveningwhenyouupsetmybooks,forIwasindangeratthetime,andanyshowofsurpriseandemotionuponyourpartmighthavedrawnattentiontomyidentityandledtothemostdeplorableandirreparableresults.
