Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Crooked Man
WhenIpromisedherIwouldsaynothingshekissedme,andIhaveneverseenhersince.Ihavetoldyounowthewholetruth,andifIwithhelditfromthepoliceitisbecauseIdidnotrealizethenthedangerinwhichmydearfriendstood.Iknowthatitcanonlybetoheradvantagethateverythingshouldbeknown.’
"Therewasherstatement,Watson,andtome,asyoucanimagine,itwaslikealightonadarknight.Everythingwhichhadbeendisconnectedbeforebeganatoncetoassumeitstrueplace,andIhadashadowypresentimentofthewholesequenceofevents.MynextstepobviouslywastofindthemanwhohadproducedsucharemarkableimpressionuponMrs.Barclay.IfhewerestillinAldershotitshouldnotbeaverydifficultmatter.Therearenotsuchaverygreatnumberofcivilians,andadeformedmanwassuretohaveattractedattention.Ispentadayinthesearch,andbyevening—thisveryevening,Watson—Ihadrunhimdown.Theman’snameisHenryWood,andhelivesinlodgingsinthissamestreetinwhichtheladiesmethim.Hehasonlybeenfivedaysintheplace.Inthecharacterofaregistration-agentIhadamostinterestinggossipwithhislandlady.Themanisbytradeaconjurerandperformer,goingroundthecanteensafternightfall,andgivingalittleentertainmentateach.Hecarriessomecreatureaboutwithhiminthatbox,aboutwhichthelandladyseemedtobeinconsiderabletrepidation,forshehadneverseenananimallikeit.Heusesitinsomeofhistricksaccordingtoheraccount.
