Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
A Scandal in Bohemia
TherewasnotasoultheresavethetwowhomIhadfollowedandasurplicedclergyman,whoseemedtobeexpostulatingwiththem. Theywereallthreestandinginaknotinfrontofthealtar. Iloungedupthesideaislelikeanyotheridlerwhohasdroppedintoachurch. Suddenly,tomysurprise,thethreeatthealtarfacedroundtome,andGodfreyNortoncamerunningashardashecouldtowardsme.
"‘ThankGod,’hecried.‘You’lldo.Come!Come!’
"‘Whatthen?’Iasked.
"‘Come,man,come,onlythreeminutes,oritwon’tbelegal.’
"Iwashalf-draggeduptothealtar,andbeforeIknewwhereIwasIfoundmyselfmumblingresponseswhichwerewhisperedinmyear,andvouchingforthingsofwhichIknewnothing,andgenerallyassistinginthesecuretyingupofIreneAdler,spinster,toGodfreyNorton,bachelor. Itwasalldoneinaninstant,andtherewasthegentlemanthankingmeontheonesideandtheladyontheother,whiletheclergymanbeamedonmeinfront. ItwasthemostpreposterouspositioninwhichIeverfoundmyselfinmylife,anditwasthethoughtofitthatstartedmelaughingjustnow. Itseemsthattherehadbeensomeinformalityabouttheirlicense,thattheclergymanabsolutelyrefusedtomarrythemwithoutawitnessofsomesort,andthatmyluckyappearancesavedthebridegroomfromhavingtosallyoutintothestreetsinsearchofabestman. Thebridegavemeasovereign,andImeantowearitonmywatch-chaininmemoryoftheoccasion."
"Thisisaveryunexpectedturnofaffairs,"saidl;"andwhatthen?"
"Well,Ifoundmyplansveryseriouslymenaced. Itlookedasifthepairmighttakeanimmediatedeparture,andsonecessitateverypromptandenergeticmeasuresonmypart.
