Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Crooked Man
Wewerepassinghimwhenheraisedhisfacetolookatusinthecircleoflightthrownbythelamp,andashedidsohestoppedandscreamedoutinadreadfulvoice,"MyGod,it’sNancy!"Mrs.Barclayturnedaswhiteasdeathandwouldhavefallendownhadthedreadful-lookingcreaturenotcaughtholdofher.Iwasgoingtocallforthepolice,butshe,tomysurprise,spokequitecivillytothefellow.
"‘"Ithoughtyouhadbeendeadthisthirtyyears,Henry,"saidsheinashakingvoice.
"‘"SoIhave,"saidhe,anditwasawfultohearthetonesthathesaiditin.Hehadaverydark,fearsomeface,andagleaminhiseyesthatcomesbacktomeinmydreams.Hishairandwhiskerswereshotwithgray,andhisfacewasallcrinkledandpuckeredlikeawitheredapple.
"‘"Justwalkonalittleway,dear,"saidMrs.Barclay;"Iwanttohaveawordwiththisman.Thereisnothingtobeafraidof."Shetriedtospeakboldly,butshewasstilldeadlypaleandcouldhardlygetherwordsoutforthetremblingofherlips.
"‘Ididassheaskedme,andtheytalkedtogetherforafewminutes.Thenshecamedownthestreetwithhereyesblazing,andIsawthecrippledwretchstandingbythelamp-postandshakinghisclenchedfistsintheairasifheweremadwithrage.Sheneversaidaworduntilwewereatthedoorhere,whenshetookmebythehandandbeggedmetotellnoonewhathadhappened.
"‘"It’sanoldacquaintanceofminewhohascomedownintheworld,"saidshe.
