Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Speckled Band
"MynameisHelenStoner,andIamlivingwithmystepfather,whoisthelastsurvivorofoneoftheoldestSaxonfamiliesinEngland,theRoylottsofStokeMoran,onthewesternborderofSurrey."
Holmesnoddedhishead. "Thenameisfamiliartome,"saidhe.
"ThefamilywasatonetimeamongtherichestinEngland,andtheestatesextendedoverthebordersintoBerkshireinthenorth,andHampshireinthewest. Inthelastcentury,however,foursuccessiveheirswereofadissoluteandwastefuldisposition,andthefamilyruinwaseventuallycompletedbyagamblerinthedaysoftheRegency. Nothingwasleftsaveafewacresofground,andthetwo-hundred-year-oldhouse,whichisitselfcrushedunderaheavymortgage. Thelastsquiredraggedouthisexistencethere,livingthehorriblelifeofanaristocraticpauper; buthisonlyson,mystepfather,seeingthathemustadapthimselftothenewconditions,obtainedanadvancefromarelative,whichenabledhimtotakeamedicaldegreeandwentouttoCalcutta,where,byhisprofessionalskillandhisforceofcharacter,heestablishedalargepractice. Inafitofanger,however,causedbysomerobberieswhichhadbeenperpetratedinthehouse,hebeathisnativebutlertodeathandnarrowlyescapedacapitalsentence. Asitwas,hesufferedalongtermofimprisonmentandafterwardsreturnedtoEnglandamoroseanddisappointedman.
"WhenDr.RoylottwasinIndiahemarriedmymother,Mrs.Stoner,theyoungwidowofMajor-GeneralStoner,oftheBengalArtillery. MysisterJuliaandIweretwins,andwewereonlytwoyearsoldatthetimeofmymother’sre-marriage. Shehadaconsiderablesumofmoney—notlessthan1000poundsayear—andthisshebequeathedtoDr.Roylottentirelywhileweresidedwithhim,withaprovisionthatacertainannualsumshouldbeallowedtoeachofusintheeventofourmarriage.
