Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
Hetriedmorethanoncetobreakawayfromthedangerouscompanywhichhewaskeeping,buteachtimetheinfluenceofhisfriend,SirGeorgeBurnwell,wasenoughtodrawhimbackagain.
"And,indeed,IcouldnotwonderthatsuchamanasSirGeorgeBurnwellshouldgainaninfluenceoverhim,forhehasfrequentlybroughthimtomyhouse,andIhavefoundmyselfthatIcouldhardlyresistthefascinationofhismanner. HeisolderthanArthur,amanoftheworldtohisfinger-tips,onewhohadbeeneverywhere,seeneverything,abrillianttalker,andamanofgreatpersonalbeauty. YetwhenIthinkofhimincoldblood,farawayfromtheglamourofhispresence,IamconvincedfromhiscynicalspeechandthelookwhichIhavecaughtinhiseyesthatheisonewhoshouldbedeeplydistrusted. SoIthink,andso,too,thinksmylittleMary,whohasawoman’squickinsightintocharacter.
"Andnowthereisonlyshetobedescribed. Sheismyniece;butwhenmybrotherdiedfiveyearsagoandleftheraloneintheworldIadoptedher,andhavelookeduponhereversinceasmydaughter. Sheisasunbeaminmyhouse—sweet,loving,beautiful,awonderfulmanagerandhousekeeper,yetastenderandquietandgentleasawomancouldbe. Sheismyrighthand. IdonotknowwhatIcoulddowithouther. Inonlyonematterhassheevergoneagainstmywishes. Twicemyboyhasaskedhertomarryhim,forhelovesherdevotedly,buteachtimeshehasrefusedhim. Ithinkthatifanyonecouldhavedrawnhimintotherightpathitwouldhavebeenshe,andthathismarriagemighthavechangedhiswholelife;butnow,alas! itistoolate—forevertoolate!
"Now,Mr.Holmes,youknowthepeoplewholiveundermyroof,andIshallcontinuewithmymiserablestory.
