Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Man with the Twisted Lip
"IfIamMr.NevilleSt.Clair,thenitisobviousthatnocrimehasbeencommitted,andthat,therefore,Iamillegallydetained."
"Nocrime,butaverygreaterrorhasbeencommitted,"saidHolmes. "Youwouldhavedonebettertohavetrustedyouwife."
"Itwasnotthewife;itwasthechildren,"groanedtheprisoner. "Godhelpme,Iwouldnothavethemashamedoftheirfather. MyGod!Whatanexposure! WhatcanIdo?"
SherlockHolmessatdownbesidehimonthecouchandpattedhimkindlyontheshoulder.
"Ifyouleaveittoacourtoflawtoclearthematterup,"saidhe,"ofcourseyoucanhardlyavoidpublicity. Ontheotherhand,ifyouconvincethepoliceauthoritiesthatthereisnopossiblecaseagainstyou,Idonotknowthatthereisanyreasonthatthedetailsshouldfindtheirwayintothepapers. InspectorBradstreetwould,Iamsure,makenotesuponanythingwhichyoumighttellusandsubmitittotheproperauthorities. Thecasewouldthennevergointocourtatall."
"Godblessyou!"criedtheprisonerpassionately. "Iwouldhaveenduredimprisonment,ay,evenexecution,ratherthanhaveleftmymiserablesecretasafamilyblottomychildren.
"Youarethefirstwhohaveeverheardmystory. Myfatherwasaschool-masterinChesterfield,whereIreceivedanexcellenteducation. Itravelledinmyyouth,tooktothestage,andfinallybecameareporteronaneveningpaperinLondon. Onedaymyeditorwishedtohaveaseriesofarticlesuponbegginginthemetropolis,andIvolunteeredtosupplythem.
