Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
"Mrs.Toller!"criedMissHunter.
"Yes,miss. Mr.Rucastleletmeoutwhenhecamebackbeforehewentuptoyou. Ah,miss,itisapityyoudidn’tletmeknowwhatyouwereplanning,forIwouldhavetoldyouthatyourpainswerewasted."
"Ha!"saidHolmes,lookingkeenlyather. "ItisclearthatMrs.Tollerknowsmoreaboutthismatterthananyoneelse."
"Yes,sir,Ido,andIamreadyenoughtotellwhatIknow."
"Then,pray,sitdown,andletushearitforthereareseveralpointsonwhichImustconfessthatIamstillinthedark."
"Iwillsoonmakeitcleartoyou,"saidshe; "andI’dhavedonesobeforenowifIcouldha’gotoutfromthecellar. Ifthere’spolice-courtbusinessoverthis,you’llrememberthatIwastheonethatstoodyourfriend,andthatIwasMissAlice’sfriendtoo.
"Shewasneverhappyathome,MissAlicewasn’t,fromthetimethatherfathermarriedagain. Shewasslightedlikeandhadnosayinanything,butitneverreallybecamebadforheruntilaftershemetMr.Fowleratafriend’shouse. AswellasIcouldlearn,MissAlicehadrightsofherownbywill,butshewassoquietandpatient,shewas,thatsheneversaidawordaboutthembutjustlefteverythinginMr.Rucastle’shands. Heknewhewassafewithher;butwhentherewasachanceofahusbandcomingforward,whowouldaskforallthatthelawwouldgivehim,thenherfatherthoughtittimetoputastoponit. Hewantedhertosignapaper,sothatwhethershemarriedornot,hecouldusehermoney. Whenshewouldn’tdoit,hekeptonworryingheruntilshegotbrain-fever,andforsixweekswasatdeath’sdoor.
