Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist
But,inanycaseaforcedmarriageisnomarriage,butitisaveryseriousfelony,asyouwilldiscoverbeforeyouhavefinished.You’llhavetimetothinkthepointoutduringthenexttenyearsorso,unlessIammistaken.Astoyou,Carruthers,youwouldhavedonebettertokeepyourpistolinyourpocket.”
“Ibegintothinkso,Mr.Holmes,butwhenIthoughtofalltheprecautionIhadtakentoshieldthisgirl—forIlovedher,Mr.Holmes,anditistheonlytimethateverIknewwhatlovewas—itfairlydrovememadtothinkthatshewasinthepowerofthegreatestbruteandbullyinSouthAfrica—amanwhosenameisaholyterrorfromKimberleytoJohannesburg.Why,Mr.Holmes,you’llhardlybelieveit,buteversincethatgirlhasbeeninmyemploymentIneveroncelethergopastthishouse,whereIknewtherascalswerelurking,withoutfollowingheronmybicycle,justtoseethatshecametonoharm.Ikeptmydistancefromher,andIworeabeard,sothatsheshouldnotrecognizeme,forsheisagoodandhigh-spiritedgirl,andshewouldn’thavestayedinmyemploymentlongifshehadthoughtthatIwasfollowingheraboutthecountryroads.”
“Whydidn’tyoutellherofherdanger?”
“Becausethen,again,shewouldhaveleftme,andIcouldn’tbeartofacethat.Evenifshecouldn’tloveme,itwasagreatdealtomejusttoseeherdaintyformaboutthehouse,andtohearthesoundofhervoice.”
“Well,”saidI,“youcallthatlove,Mr.Carruthers,butIshouldcallitselfishness.”
“Maybethetwothingsgotogether.Anyhow,Icouldn’tlethergo.
