Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Priory School
Holmes,youmustsavehim—youmustsavehim!Itellyouthatyoumustsavehim!”TheDukehaddroppedthelastattemptatself-command,andwaspacingtheroomwithaconvulsedfaceandwithhisclenchedhandsravingintheair.Atlasthemasteredhimselfandsatdownoncemoreathisdesk.“Iappreciateyourconductincomingherebeforeyouspoketoanyoneelse,”saidhe.“Atleast,wemaytakecounselhowfarwecanminimizethishideousscandal.”
“Exactly,”saidHolmes.“Ithink,yourGrace,thatthiscanonlybedonebyabsolutefranknessbetweenus.IamdisposedtohelpyourGracetothebestofmyability,but,inordertodoso,Imustunderstandtothelastdetailhowthematterstands.IrealizethatyourwordsappliedtoMr.JamesWilder,andthatheisnotthemurderer.”
“No,themurdererhasescaped.”
SherlockHolmessmileddemurely.
“YourGracecanhardlyhaveheardofanysmallreputationwhichIpossess,oryouwouldnotimaginethatitissoeasytoescapeme.Mr.ReubenHayeswasarrestedatChesterfield,onmyinformation,ateleveno’clocklastnight.IhadatelegramfromtheheadofthelocalpolicebeforeIlefttheschoolthismorning.”
TheDukeleanedbackinhischairandstaredwithamazementatmyfriend.
“Youseemtohavepowersthatarehardlyhuman,”saidhe.“SoReubenHayesistaken?Iamrightgladtohearit,ifitwillnotreactuponthefateofJames.”
“Yoursecretary?”
“No,sir,myson.”
ItwasHolmes’sturntolookastonished.
“Iconfessthatthisisentirelynewtome,yourGrace.Imustbegyoutobemoreexplicit.
