Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton
Isitnotpitiful?AndhereIfindyou,amanofsense,bogglingaboutterms,whenyourclient’sfutureandhonourareatstake.Yousurpriseme,Mr.Holmes.”
“WhatIsayistrue,”Holmesanswered.“Themoneycannotbefound.SurelyitisbetterforyoutotakethesubstantialsumwhichIofferthantoruinthiswoman’scareer,whichcanprofityouinnoway?”
“Thereyoumakeamistake,Mr.Holmes.Anexposurewouldprofitmeindirectlytoaconsiderableextent.Ihaveeightortensimilarcasesmaturing.IfitwascirculatedamongthemthatIhadmadeasevereexampleoftheLadyEva,Ishouldfindallofthemmuchmoreopentoreason.Youseemypoint?”
Holmessprangfromhischair.
“Getbehindhim,Watson!Don’tlethimout!Now,sir,letusseethecontentsofthatnotebook.”
Milvertonhadglidedasquickasarattothesideoftheroomandstoodwithhisbackagainstthewall.
“Mr.Holmes,Mr.Holmes,”hesaid,turningthefrontofhiscoatandexhibitingthebuttofalargerevolver,whichprojectedfromtheinsidepocket.“Ihavebeenexpectingyoutodosomethingoriginal.Thishasbeendonesooften,andwhatgoodhasevercomefromit?IassureyouthatIamarmedtotheteeth,andIamperfectlypreparedtousemyweapons,knowingthatthelawwillsupportme.Besides,yoursuppositionthatIwouldbringthelettershereinanotebookisentirelymistaken.Iwoulddonothingsofoolish.Andnow,gentlemen,Ihaveoneortwolittleinterviewsthisevening,anditisalongdrivetoHampstead.
