Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
Shehadhardlylistenedtohisinstructionswhenshesawyoucomingdownstairs,onwhichsheclosedthewindowrapidlyandtoldyouaboutoneoftheservants’escapadewithherwooden-leggedlover,whichwasallperfectlytrue.
"Yourboy,Arthur,wenttobedafterhisinterviewwithyoubuthesleptbadlyonaccountofhisuneasinessabouthisclubdebts. Inthemiddleofthenightheheardasofttreadpasshisdoor,soheroseand,lookingout,wassurprisedtoseehiscousinwalkingverystealthilyalongthepassageuntilshedisappearedintoyourdressing-room. Petrifiedwithastonishment,theladslippedonsomeclothesandwaitedthereinthedarktoseewhatwouldcomeofthisstrangeaffair. Presentlysheemergedfromtheroomagain,andinthelightofthepassage-lampyoursonsawthatshecarriedthepreciouscoronetinherhands. Shepasseddownthestairs,andhe,thrillingwithhorror,ranalongandslippedbehindthecurtainnearyourdoor,whencehecouldseewhatpassedinthehallbeneath. Hesawherstealthilyopenthewindow,handoutthecoronettosomeoneinthegloom,andthenclosingitoncemorehurrybacktoherroom,passingquiteclosetowherehestoodhidbehindthecurtain.
"Aslongasshewasonthescenehecouldnottakeanyactionwithoutahorribleexposureofthewomanwhomheloved. Buttheinstantthatshewasgoneherealizedhowcrushingamisfortunethiswouldbeforyou,andhowall-importantitwastosetitright. Herusheddown,justashewas,inhisbarefeet,openedthewindow,sprangoutintothesnow,andrandownthelane,wherehecouldseeadarkfigureinthemoonlight. SirGeorgeBurnwelltriedtogetaway,butArthurcaughthim,andtherewasastrugglebetweenthem,yourladtuggingatonesideofthecoronet,andhisopponentattheother. Inthescuffle,yoursonstruckSirGeorgeandcuthimovertheeye.
