Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Abbey Grange
Whatbeatsmeishowtheycouldhavedonesomadathing,knowingthattheladycoulddescribethemandthatwecouldnotfailtorecognizethedescription.”
“Exactly.OnewouldhaveexpectedthattheywouldsilenceLadyBrackenstallaswell.”
“Theymaynothaverealized,”Isuggested,“thatshehadrecoveredfromherfaint.”
“Thatislikelyenough.Ifsheseemedtobesenseless,theywouldnottakeherlife.Whataboutthispoorfellow,Hopkins?Iseemtohaveheardsomequeerstoriesabouthim.”
“Hewasagood-heartedmanwhenhewassober,butaperfectfiendwhenhewasdrunk,orratherwhenhewashalfdrunk,forheseldomreallywentthewholeway.Thedevilseemedtobeinhimatsuchtimes,andhewascapableofanything.FromwhatIhear,inspiteofallhiswealthandhistitle,heverynearlycameourwayonceortwice.Therewasascandalabouthisdrenchingadogwithpetroleumandsettingitonfire—herladyship’sdog,tomakethematterworse—andthatwasonlyhushedupwithdifficulty.Thenhethrewadecanteratthatmaid,TheresaWright—therewastroubleaboutthat.Onthewhole,andbetweenourselves,itwillbeabrighterhousewithouthim.Whatareyoulookingatnow?”
Holmeswasdownonhisknees,examiningwithgreatattentiontheknotsupontheredcordwithwhichtheladyhadbeensecured.Thenhecarefullyscrutinizedthebrokenandfrayedendwhereithadsnappedoffwhentheburglarhaddraggeditdown.
“Whenthiswaspulleddown,thebellinthekitchenmusthaverungloudly,”heremarked.
“Noonecouldhearit.
