Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Five Orange Pips
YetIcouldnotshakeoffthevaguefeelingofdreadwhichitleftbehind,thoughthesensationgrewlesskeenastheweekspassedandnothinghappenedtodisturbtheusualroutineofourlives. Icouldseeachangeinmyuncle,however. Hedrankmorethanever,andhewaslessinclinedforanysortofsociety. Mostofhistimehewouldspendinhisroom,withthedoorlockedupontheinside, butsometimeshewouldemergeinasortofdrunkenfrenzyandwouldburstoutofthehouseandtearaboutthegardenwitharevolverinhishand,screamingoutthathewasafraidofnoman,andthathewasnottobecoopedup,likeasheepinapen,bymanordevil. Whenthesehotfitswereoverhowever,hewouldrushtumultuouslyinatthedoorandlockandbaritbehindhim,likeamanwhocanbrazenitoutnolongeragainsttheterrorwhichliesattherootsofhissoul. AtsuchtimesIhaveseenhisface,evenonacoldday,glistenwithmoisture,asthoughitwerenewraisedfromabasin.
"Well,tocometoanendofthematter,Mr.Holmes,andnottoabuseyourpatience,therecameanightwhenhemadeoneofthosedrunkensalliesfromwhichhenevercameback. Wefoundhim,whenwewenttosearchforhim,facedownwardinalittlegreen-scummedpool,whichlayatthefootofthegarden. Therewasnosignofanyviolence,andthewaterwasbuttwofeetdeep,sothatthejury,havingregardtohisknowneccentricity,broughtinaverdictof‘suicide.’ ButI,whoknewhowhewincedfromtheverythoughtofdeath,hadmuchadotopersuademyselfthathehadgoneoutofhiswaytomeetit. Thematterpassed,however,andmyfatherenteredintopossessionoftheestate,andofsome14,000pounds,whichlaytohiscreditatthebank."
"Onemoment,"Holmesinterposed,"yourstatementis,Iforesee,oneofthemostremarkabletowhichIhaveeverlistened. Letmehavethedateofthereceptionbyyouruncleoftheletter,andthedateofhissupposedsuicide."
