Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Crooked Man
Youthen,asIunderstand,followedherhomeandsawthroughthewindowanaltercationbetweenherhusbandandher,inwhichshedoubtlesscasthisconducttoyouinhisteeth.Yourownfeelingsovercameyou,andyouranacrossthelawnandbrokeinuponthem."
"Idid,sir,andatthesightofmehelookedasIhaveneverseenamanlookbefore,andoverhewentwithhisheadonthefender.Buthewasdeadbeforehefell.IreaddeathonhisfaceasplainasIcanreadthattextoverthefire.Thebaresightofmewaslikeabulletthroughhisguiltyheart."
"Andthen?"
"ThenNancyfainted,andIcaughtupthekeyofthedoorfromherhand,intendingtounlockitandgethelp.ButasIwasdoingititseemedtomebettertoleaveitaloneandgetaway,forthethingmightlookblackagainstme,andanywaymysecretwouldbeoutifIweretaken.InmyhasteIthrustthekeyintomypocket,anddroppedmystickwhileIwaschasingTeddy,whohadrunupthecurtain.WhenIgothimintohisbox,fromwhichhehadslipped,IwasoffasfastasIcouldrun."
"Who’sTeddy?"askedHolmes.
Themanleanedoverandpulledupthefrontofakindofhutchinthecorner.Inaninstantoutthereslippedabeautifulreddish-browncreature,thinandlithe,withthelegsofastoat,along,thinnose,andapairofthefinestredeyesthateverIsawinananimal’shead.
"It’samongoose,"Icried.
