Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
"Doyouknow,Watson,"saidhe,"thatitisoneofthecursesofamindwithaturnlikeminethatImustlookateverythingwithreferencetomyownspecialsubject. Youlookatthesescatteredhouses,andyouareimpressedbytheirbeauty. Ilookatthem,andtheonlythoughtwhichcomestomeisafeelingoftheirisolationandoftheimpunitywithwhichcrimemaybecommittedthere."
"Goodheavens!"Icried. "Whowouldassociatecrimewiththesedearoldhomesteads?"
"Theyalwaysfillmewithacertainhorror. Itismybelief,Watson,foundeduponmyexperience,thatthelowestandvilestalleysinLondondonotpresentamoredreadfulrecordofsinthandoesthesmilingandbeautifulcountryside."
"Youhorrifyme!"
"Butthereasonisveryobvious. Thepressureofpublicopinioncandointhetownwhatthelawcannotaccomplish. Thereisnolanesovilethatthescreamofatorturedchild,orthethudofadrunkard’sblow,doesnotbegetsympathyandindignationamongtheneighbours,andthenthewholemachineryofjusticeiseversoclosethatawordofcomplaintcansetitgoing,andthereisbutastepbetweenthecrimeandthedock. Butlookattheselonelyhouses,eachinitsownfields,filledforthemostpartwithpoorignorantfolkwhoknowlittleofthelaw. Thinkofthedeedsofhellishcruelty,thehiddenwickednesswhichmaygoon,yearin,yearout,insuchplaces,andnonethewiser. HadthisladywhoappealstousforhelpgonetoliveinWinchester,Ishouldneverhavehadafearforher. Itisthefivemilesofcountrywhichmakesthedanger. Still,itisclearthatsheisnotpersonallythreatened."
