Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Five Orange Pips
Inthat,however,Iwasinerror. UpontheseconddayofhisabsenceIreceivedatelegramfromthemajor,imploringmetocomeatonce. Myfatherhadfallenoveroneofthedeepchalk-pitswhichaboundintheneighbourhood,andwaslyingsenseless,withashatteredskull. Ihurriedtohim,buthepassedawaywithouthavingeverrecoveredhisconsciousness. Hehad,asitappears,beenreturningfromFarehaminthetwilight,andasthecountrywasunknowntohim,andthechalk-pitunfenced,thejuryhadnohesitationinbringinginaverdictof‘deathfromaccidentalcauses.’ CarefullyasIexaminedeveryfactconnectedwithhisdeath,Iwasunabletofindanythingwhichcouldsuggesttheideaofmurder. Therewerenosignsofviolence,nofootmarks,norobbery,norecordofstrangershavingbeenseenupontheroads. AndyetIneednottellyouthatmymindwasfarfromatease,andthatIwaswell-nighcertainthatsomefoulplothadbeenwovenroundhim.
"InthissinisterwayIcameintomyinheritance. YouwillaskmewhyIdidnotdisposeofit? Ianswer,becauseIwaswellconvincedthatourtroubleswereinsomewaydependentuponanincidentinmyuncle’slife,andthatthedangerwouldbeaspressinginonehouseasinanother.
"ItwasinJanuary,’85,thatmypoorfathermethisend,andtwoyearsandeightmonthshaveelapsedsincethen. DuringthattimeIhavelivedhappilyatHorsham,andIhadbeguntohopethatthiscursehadpassedwayfromthefamily,andthatithadendedwiththelastgeneration. Ihadbeguntotakecomforttoosoon,however; yesterdaymorningtheblowfellintheveryshapeinwhichithadcomeuponmyfather."
Theyoungmantookfromhiswaistcoatacrumpledenvelope,andturningtothetableheshookoutuponitfivelittledriedorangepips.
