Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist
Hisreverenceisourownhomemadearticle.YouhadknownRalphSmithinSouthAfrica.Youhadreasontobelievehewouldnotlivelong.Youfoundoutthathisniecewouldinherithisfortune.How’sthat—eh?”
CarruthersnoddedandWilliamsonswore.
“Shewasnextofkin,nodoubt,andyouwereawarethattheoldfellowwouldmakenowill.”
“Couldn’treadorwrite,”saidCarruthers.
“Soyoucameover,thetwoofyou,andhuntedupthegirl.Theideawasthatoneofyouwastomarryher,andtheotherhaveashareoftheplunder.Forsomereason,Woodleywaschosenasthehusband.Whywasthat?”
“Weplayedcardsforheronthevoyage.Hewon.”
“Isee.Yougottheyoungladyintoyourservice,andthereWoodleywastodothecourting.Sherecognizedthedrunkenbrutethathewas,andwouldhavenothingtodowithhim.Meanwhile,yourarrangementwasratherupsetbythefactthatyouhadyourselffalleninlovewiththelady.Youcouldnolongerbeartheideaofthisruffianowningher?”
“No,byGeorge,Icouldn’t!”
“Therewasaquarrelbetweenyou.Heleftyouinarage,andbegantomakehisownplansindependentlyofyou.”
“Itstrikesme,Williamson,thereisn’tverymuchthatwecantellthisgentleman,”criedCarruthers,withabitterlaugh.“Yes,wequarreled,andheknockedmedown.Iamlevelwithhimonthat,anyhow.ThenIlostsightofhim.Thatwaswhenhepickedupwiththisoutcastpadrehere.Ifoundthattheyhadsetuphousekeepingtogetheratthisplaceonthelinethatshehadtopassforthestation.
