Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
AyearagoGodfreyStauntonlodgedinLondonforatimeandbecamepassionatelyattachedtohislandlady’sdaughter,whomhemarried.Shewasasgoodasshewasbeautifulandasintelligentasshewasgood.Nomanneedbeashamedofsuchawife.ButGodfreywastheheirtothiscrabbedoldnobleman,anditwasquitecertainthatthenewsofhismarriagewouldhavebeentheendofhisinheritance.Iknewtheladwell,andIlovedhimforhismanyexcellentqualities.IdidallIcouldtohelphimtokeepthingsstraight.Wedidourverybesttokeepthethingfromeveryone,for,whenoncesuchawhispergetsabout,itisnotlongbeforeeveryonehasheardit.Thankstothislonelycottageandhisowndiscretion,Godfreyhasuptonowsucceeded.Theirsecretwasknowntonoonesavetomeandtooneexcellentservant,whohasatpresentgoneforassistancetoTrumpington.Butatlasttherecameaterribleblowintheshapeofdangerousillnesstohiswife.Itwasconsumptionofthemostvirulentkind.Thepoorboywashalfcrazedwithgrief,andyethehadtogotoLondontoplaythismatch,forhecouldnotgetoutofitwithoutexplanationswhichwouldexposehissecret.Itriedtocheerhimupbywire,andhesentmeoneinreply,imploringmetodoallIcould.Thiswasthetelegramwhichyouappearinsomeinexplicablewaytohaveseen.Ididnottellhimhowurgentthedangerwas,forIknewthathecoulddonogoodhere,butIsentthetruthtothegirl’sfather,andheveryinjudiciouslycommunicatedittoGodfrey
