Поворот гвинта
Chapter 8
Shehadtoldme,bitbybit,underpressure,agreatdeal;butasmallshiftyspotonthewrongsideofitallstillsometimesbrushedmybrowlikethewingofabat;andIrememberhowonthisoccasion—forthesleepinghouseandtheconcentrationalikeofourdangerandourwatchseemedtohelp—Ifelttheimportanceofgivingthelastjerktothecurtain.“Idon’tbelieveanythingsohorrible,”Irecollectsaying;“no,letusputitdefinitely,mydear,thatIdon’t.ButifIdid,youknow,there’sathingIshouldrequirenow,justwithoutsparingyoutheleastbitmore—oh,notascrap,come!—togetoutofyou.Whatwasityouhadinmindwhen,inourdistress,beforeMilescameback,overtheletterfromhisschool,yousaid,undermyinsistence,thatyoudidn’tpretendforhimthathehadnotliterallyeverbeen‘bad’?Hehasnotliterally‘ever,’intheseweeksthatImyselfhavelivedwithhimandsocloselywatchedhim;hehasbeenanimperturbablelittleprodigyofdelightful,lovablegoodness.Thereforeyoumightperfectlyhavemadetheclaimforhimifyouhadnot,asithappened,seenanexceptiontotake.Whatwasyourexception,andtowhatpassageinyourpersonalobservationofhimdidyourefer?”
Itwasadreadfullyaustereinquiry,butlevitywasnotournote,and,atanyrate,beforethegraydawnadmonishedustoseparateIhadgotmyanswer.Whatmyfriendhadhadinmindprovedtobeimmenselytothepurpose.
