Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor
Hewasasmall,wiry,sunburntman,clean-shaven,withasharpfaceandalertmanner.
"ThenI’lltellourstoryrightaway,"saidthelady. "FrankhereandImetin’84,inMcQuire’scamp,neartheRockies,wherepawasworkingaclaim. Wewereengagedtoeachother,FrankandI;butthenonedayfatherstruckarichpocketandmadeapile,whilepoorFrankherehadaclaimthatpeteredoutandcametonothing. ThericherpagrewthepoorerwasFrank;soatlastpawouldn’thearofourengagementlastinganylonger,andhetookmeawayto‘Frisco. Frankwouldn’tthrowuphishand,though;sohefollowedmethere,andhesawmewithoutpaknowinganythingaboutit. Itwouldonlyhavemadehimmadtoknow,sowejustfixeditallupforourselves. Franksaidthathewouldgoandmakehispile,too,andnevercomebacktoclaimmeuntilhehadasmuchaspa. SothenIpromisedtowaitforhimtotheendoftimeandpledgedmyselfnottomarryanyoneelsewhilehelived. ‘Whyshouldn’twebemarriedrightaway,then,’saidhe,‘andthenIwillfeelsureofyou;andIwon’tclaimtobeyourhusbanduntilIcomeback?’ Well,wetalkeditover,andhehadfixeditallupsonicely,withaclergymanallreadyinwaiting,thatwejustdiditrightthere;andthenFrankwentofftoseekhisfortune,andIwentbacktopa.
"ThenextIheardofFrankwasthathewasinMontana,andthenhewentprospectinginArizona,andthenIheardofhimfromNewMexico. Afterthatcamealongnewspaperstoryabouthowaminers’camphadbeenattackedbyApacheIndians,andtherewasmyFrank’snameamongthekilled. Ifainteddeadaway,andIwasverysickformonthsafter. PathoughtIhadadeclineandtookmetohalfthedoctorsin‘Frisco. Notawordofnewscameforayearandmore,sothatIneverdoubtedthatFrankwasreallydead.
