Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Empty House
Itwasnotapleasantbusiness,Watson.Thefallroaredbeneathme.Iamnotafancifulperson,butIgiveyoumywordthatIseemedtohearMoriarty’svoicescreamingatmeoutoftheabyss.Amistakewouldhavebeenfatal.Morethanonce,astuftsofgrasscameoutinmyhandormyfootslippedinthewetnotchesoftherock,IthoughtthatIwasgone.ButIstruggledupward,andatlastIreachedaledgeseveralfeetdeepandcoveredwithsoftgreenmoss,whereIcouldlieunseen,inthemostperfectcomfort.ThereIwasstretched,whenyou,mydearWatson,andallyourfollowingwereinvestigatinginthemostsympatheticandinefficientmannerthecircumstancesofmydeath.
“Atlast,whenyouhadallformedyourinevitableandtotallyerroneousconclusions,youdepartedforthehotel,andIwasleftalone.IhadimaginedthatIhadreachedtheendofmyadventures,butaveryunexpectedoccurrenceshowedmethatthereweresurprisesstillinstoreforme.Ahugerock,fallingfromabove,boomedpastme,struckthepath,andboundedoverintothechasm.ForaninstantIthoughtthatitwasanaccident,butamomentlater,lookingup,Isawaman’sheadagainstthedarkeningsky,andanotherstonestrucktheveryledgeuponwhichIwasstretched,withinafootofmyhead.Ofcourse,themeaningofthiswasobvious.Moriartyhadnotbeenalone.Aconfederate—andeventhatoneglancehadtoldmehowdangerousamanthatconfederatewas—hadkeptguardwhiletheProfessorhadattackedme.Fromadistance,unseenbyme,hehadbeenawitnessofhisfriend’sdeathandofmyescape.
