Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
Itellyou,therewasneveramaninthisworldlovedawomanmorethanIlovedher.Ihadarighttoher.Shewaspledgedtomeyearsago.WhowasthisEnglishmanthatheshouldcomebetweenus?ItellyouthatIhadthefirstrighttoher,andthatIwasonlyclaimingmyown.
“Shebrokeawayfromyourinfluencewhenshefoundthemanthatyouare,”saidHolmes,sternly.“ShefledfromAmericatoavoidyou,andshemarriedanhonourablegentlemaninEngland.Youdoggedherandfollowedherandmadeherlifeamiserytoher,inordertoinducehertoabandonthehusbandwhomshelovedandrespectedinordertoflywithyou,whomshefearedandhated.Youhaveendedbybringingaboutthedeathofanoblemananddrivinghiswifetosuicide.Thatisyourrecordinthisbusiness,Mr.AbeSlaney,andyouwillanswerforittothelaw.”
“IfElsiedies,Icarenothingwhatbecomesofme,”saidtheAmerican.Heopenedoneofhishands,andlookedatanotecrumpledupinhispalm.“Seehere,mister!hecried,withagleamofsuspicioninhiseyes,“you’renottryingtoscaremeoverthis,areyou?Iftheladyishurtasbadasyousay,whowasitthatwrotethisnote?”Hetosseditforwardontothetable.
“Iwroteit,tobringyouhere.”
“Youwroteit?TherewasnooneonearthoutsidetheJointwhoknewthesecretofthedancingmen.Howcameyoutowriteit?”
“Whatonemancaninventanothercandiscover,”saidHolmes.ThereisacabcomingtoconveyyoutoNorwich,Mr.Slaney.Butmeanwhile,youhavetimetomakesomesmallreparationfortheinjuryyouhavewrought.AreyouawarethatMrs.
