Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez
ButImustspeakorIshallbetoolate.
“Ihavesaid,gentlemen,thatIamthisman’swife.HewasfiftyandIafoolishgirloftwentywhenwemarried.ItwasinacityofRussia,auniversity—Iwillnotnametheplace.”
“Godblessyou,Anna!”murmuredtheoldmanagain.
“Wewerereformers—revolutionists—Nihilists,youunderstand.HeandIandmanymore.Thentherecameatimeoftrouble,apoliceofficerwaskilled,manywerearrested,evidencewaswanted,andinordertosavehisownlifeandtoearnagreatreward,myhusbandbetrayedhisownwifeandhiscompanions.Yes,wewereallarresteduponhisconfession.Someofusfoundourwaytothegallows,andsometoSiberia.Iwasamongtheselast,butmytermwasnotforlife.MyhusbandcametoEnglandwithhisill-gottengainsandhaslivedinquieteversince,knowingwellthatiftheBrotherhoodknewwherehewasnotaweekwouldpassbeforejusticewouldbedone.”
Theoldmanreachedoutatremblinghandandhelpedhimselftoacigarette.“Iaminyourhands,Anna,”saidhe.“Youwerealwaysgoodtome.”
“Ihavenotyettoldyoutheheightofhisvillainy,”saidshe.“AmongourcomradesoftheOrder,therewasonewhowasthefriendofmyheart.Hewasnoble,unselfish,loving—allthatmyhusbandwasnot.Hehatedviolence.Wewereallguilty—ifthatisguilt—buthewasnot.Hewroteforeverdissuadingusfromsuchacourse.Theseletterswouldhavesavedhim.Sowouldmydiary,inwhich,fromdaytoday,Ihadenteredbothmyfeelingstowardshimandtheviewwhicheachofushadtaken.
