Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton
”
“Mydearfellow!Icongrat——”
“ToMilverton’shousemaid.”
“Goodheavens,Holmes!”
“Iwantedinformation,Watson.”
“Surelyyouhavegonetoofar?”
“Itwasamostnecessarystep.Iamaplumberwitharisingbusiness,Escott,byname.Ihavewalkedoutwithhereachevening,andIhavetalkedwithher.Goodheavens,thosetalks!However,IhavegotallIwanted.IknowMilverton’shouseasIknowthepalmofmyhand.”
“Butthegirl,Holmes?”
Heshruggedhisshoulders.
“Youcan’thelpit,mydearWatson.Youmustplayyourcardsasbestyoucanwhensuchastakeisonthetable.However,IrejoicetosaythatIhaveahatedrival,whowillcertainlycutmeouttheinstantthatmybackisturned.Whatasplendidnightitis!”
“Youlikethisweather?”
“Itsuitsmypurpose.Watson,ImeantoburgleMilverton’shouseto-night.”
Ihadacatchingofthebreath,andmyskinwentcoldatthewords,whichwereslowlyutteredinatoneofconcentratedresolution.Asaflashoflightninginthenightshowsupinaninstanteverydetailofawildlandscape,soatoneglanceIseemedtoseeeverypossibleresultofsuchanaction—thedetection,thecapture,thehonouredcareerendinginirreparablefailureanddisgrace,myfriendhimselflyingatthemercyoftheodiousMilverton.
“Forheaven’ssake,Holmes,thinkwhatyouaredoing,”Icried.
“Mydearfellow,Ihavegiveniteveryconsideration.Iamneverprecipitateinmyactions,norwouldIadoptsoenergeticand,indeed,sodangerousacourse,ifanyotherwerepossible.Letuslookatthematterclearlyandfairly.
