Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
"Here?"
"Yes,andamostremarkablebirditproved. Idon’twonderthatyoushouldtakeaninterestinit. Itlaidaneggafteritwasdead—thebonniest,brightestlittleblueeggthateverwasseen. Ihaveithereinmymuseum."
Ourvisitorstaggeredtohisfeetandclutchedthemantelpiecewithhisrighthand. Holmesunlockedhisstrong-boxandheldupthebluecarbuncle,whichshoneoutlikeastar,withacoldbrilliant,many-pointedradiance. Ryderstoodglaringwithadrawnface,uncertainwhethertoclaimortodisownit.
"Thegame’sup,Ryder,"saidHolmesquietly. "Holdup,man,oryou’llbeintothefire! Givehimanarmbackintohischair,Watson. He’snotgotbloodenoughtogoinforfelonywithimpunity. Givehimadashofbrandy. So!Nowhelooksalittlemorehuman. Whatashrimpitis,tobesure!"
Foramomenthehadstaggeredandnearlyfallen,butthebrandybroughtatingeofcolourintohischeeks,andhesatstaringwithfrightenedeyesathisaccuser.
"Ihavealmosteverylinkinmyhands,andalltheproofswhichIcouldpossiblyneed,sothereislittlewhichyouneedtellme. Still,thatlittlemayaswellbecleareduptomakethecasecomplete. Youhadheard,Ryder,ofthisbluestoneoftheCountessofMorcar’s?"
"ItwasCatherineCusackwhotoldmeofit,"saidheinacracklingvoice.
"Isee—herladyship’swaiting-maid. Well,thetemptationofsuddenwealthsoeasilyacquiredwastoomuchforyou,asithasbeenforbettermenbeforeyou; butyouwerenotveryscrupulousinthemeansyouused. Itseemstome,Ryder,thatthereisthemakingofaveryprettyvillaininyou.
