Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
"Iamendeavouringtotellyoueverything,Mr.Holmes,whichmayhaveanybearinguponthecase,butIbegthatyouwillquestionmeuponanypointwhichIdonotmakeclear."
"Onthecontrary,yourstatementissingularlylucid."
"IcometoapartofmystorynowinwhichIshouldwishtobeparticularlyso. Iamnotaveryheavysleeper,andtheanxietyinmymindtended,nodoubt,tomakemeevenlesssothanusual. Abouttwointhemorning,then,Iwasawakenedbysomesoundinthehouse. IthadceasedereIwaswideawake,butithadleftanimpressionbehinditasthoughawindowhadgentlyclosedsomewhere. Ilaylisteningwithallmyears. Suddenly,tomyhorror,therewasadistinctsoundoffootstepsmovingsoftlyinthenextroom. Islippedoutofbed,allpalpitatingwithfear,andpeepedroundthecomerofmydressing-roomdoor.
"‘Arthur!’Iscreamed,‘youvillain!youthief! Howdareyoutouchthatcoronet?’
"Thegaswashalfup,asIhadleftit,andmyunhappyboy,dressedonlyinhisshirtandtrousers,wasstandingbesidethelight,holdingthecoronetinhishands. Heappearedtobewrenchingatit,orbendingitwithallhisstrength. Atmycryhedroppeditfromhisgraspandturnedaspaleasdeath. Isnatcheditupandexaminedit. Oneofthegoldcorners,withthreeoftheberylsinit,wasmissing.
"‘Youblackguard!’Ishouted,besidemyselfwithrage. ‘Youhavedestroyedit! Youhavedishonouredmeforever! Wherearethejewelswhichyouhavestolen?’
"‘Stolen!’hecried.