Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
"‘Youunderstand,Mr.Holder,thatIamgivingyouastrongproofoftheconfidencewhichIhaveinyou,foundeduponallthatIhaveheardofyou. Irelyuponyounotonlytobediscreetandtorefrainfromallgossipuponthematterbut,aboveall,topreservethiscoronetwitheverypossibleprecautionbecauseIneednotsaythatagreatpublicscandalwouldbecausedifanyharmweretobefallit. Anyinjurytoitwouldbealmostasseriousasitscompleteloss,fortherearenoberylsintheworldtomatchthese,anditwouldbeimpossibletoreplacethem. Ileaveitwithyou,however,witheveryconfidence,andIshallcallforitinpersononMondaymorning.’
"Seeingthatmyclientwasanxioustoleave,Isaidnomorebut,callingformycashier,Iorderedhimtopayoverfifty1000poundnotes. WhenIwasaloneoncemore,however,withthepreciouscaselyinguponthetableinfrontofme,Icouldnotbutthinkwithsomemisgivingsoftheimmenseresponsibilitywhichitentaileduponme. Therecouldbenodoubtthat,asitwasanationalpossession,ahorriblescandalwouldensueifanymisfortuneshouldoccurtoit. Ialreadyregrettedhavingeverconsentedtotakechargeofit. However,itwastoolatetoalterthematternow,soIlockeditupinmyprivatesafeandturnedoncemoretomywork.
"WheneveningcameIfeltthatitwouldbeanimprudencetoleavesopreciousathingintheofficebehindme. Bankers’safeshadbeenforcedbeforenow,andwhyshouldnotminebe? Ifso,howterriblewouldbethepositioninwhichIshouldfindmyself! Idetermined,therefore,thatforthenextfewdaysIwouldalwayscarrythecasebackwardandforwardwithme,sothatitmightneverbereallyoutofmyreach. Withthisintention,IcalledacabanddroveouttomyhouseatStreatham,carryingthejewelwithme. IdidnotbreathefreelyuntilIhadtakenitupstairsandlockeditinthebureauofmydressing-room.
