Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Speckled Band
"YoucanimaginefromwhatIsaythatmypoorsisterJuliaandIhadnogreatpleasureinourlives. Noservantwouldstaywithus,andforalongtimewedidalltheworkofthehouse. Shewasbutthirtyatthetimeofherdeath,andyetherhairhadalreadybeguntowhiten,evenasminehas."
"Yoursisterisdead,then?"
"Shediedjusttwoyearsago,anditisofherdeaththatIwishtospeaktoyou. Youcanunderstandthat,livingthelifewhichIhavedescribed,wewerelittlelikelytoseeanyoneofourownageandposition. Wehad,however,anaunt,mymother’smaidensister,MissHonoriaWestphail,wholivesnearHarrow,andwewereoccasionallyallowedtopayshortvisitsatthislady’shouse. JuliawentthereatChristmastwoyearsago,andmetthereahalf-paymajorofmarines,towhomshebecameengaged. Mystepfatherlearnedoftheengagementwhenmysisterreturnedandofferednoobjectiontothemarriage;butwithinafortnightofthedaywhichhadbeenfixedforthewedding,theterribleeventoccurredwhichhasdeprivedmeofmyonlycompanion."
SherlockHolmeshadbeenleaningbackinhischairwithhiseyesclosedandhisheadsunkinacushion,buthehalfopenedhislidsnowandglancedacrossathisvisitor.
"Praybepreciseastodetails,"saidhe.
"Itiseasyformetobeso,foreveryeventofthatdreadfultimeissearedintomymemory. Themanor-houseis,asIhavealreadysaid,veryold,andonlyonewingisnowinhabited. Thebedroomsinthiswingareonthegroundfloor,thesitting-roomsbeinginthecentralblockofthebuildings.
