Повернення Шерлока Холмса

           Ikeptmyeyeonherafterthat,forIknewtherewassomedevilryinthewind.Isawthemfromtimetotime,forIwasanxioustoknowwhattheywereafter.TwodaysagoWoodleycameuptomyhousewiththiscable,whichshowedthatRalphSmithwasdead.HeaskedmeifIwouldstandbythebargain.IsaidIwouldnot.HeaskedmeifIwouldmarrythegirlmyselfandgivehimashare.IsaidIwouldwillinglydoso,butthatshewouldnothaveme.Hesaid,‘Letusgethermarriedfirstandafteraweekortwoshemayseethingsabitdifferent.’IsaidIwouldhavenothingtodowithviolence.Sohewentoffcursing,likethefoul-mouthedblackguardthathewas,andswearingthathewouldhaveheryet.Shewasleavingmethisweek-end,andIhadgotatraptotakehertothestation,butIwassouneasyinmymindthatIfollowedheronmybicycle.Shehadgotastart,however,andbeforeIcouldcatchher,themischiefwasdone.ThefirstthingIknewaboutitwaswhenIsawyoutwogentlemendrivingbackinherdog-cart.”

           Holmesroseandtossedtheendofhiscigaretteintothegrate.“Ihavebeenveryobtuse,Watson,”saidhe.“Wheninyourreportyousaidthatyouhadseenthecyclistasyouthoughtarrangehisnecktieintheshrubbery,thataloneshouldhavetoldmeall.However,wemaycongratulateourselvesuponacuriousand,insomerespects,auniquecase.