Собака Баскервіллів
Fixing the Nets
"Mr.Holmes,"shesaid,"thismanhadofferedmemarriageonconditionthatIcouldgetadivorcefrommyhusband. Hehasliedtome,thevillain,ineveryconceivableway. Notonewordoftruthhasheevertoldme. Andwhy—why? Iimaginedthatallwasformyownsake. ButnowIseethatIwasneveranythingbutatoolinhishands. WhyshouldIpreservefaithwithhimwhoneverkeptanywithme? WhyshouldItrytoshieldhimfromtheconsequencesofhisownwickedacts? Askmewhatyoulike,andthereisnothingwhichIshallholdback. OnethingIsweartoyou,andthatisthatwhenIwrotetheletterIneverdreamedofanyharmtotheoldgentleman,whohadbeenmykindestfriend."
"Ientirelybelieveyou,madam,"saidSherlockHolmes. "Therecitaloftheseeventsmustbeverypainfultoyou,andperhapsitwillmakeiteasierifItellyouwhatoccurred,andyoucancheckmeifImakeanymaterialmistake. ThesendingofthisletterwassuggestedtoyoubyStapleton?"
"Hedictatedit."
"IpresumethatthereasonhegavewasthatyouwouldreceivehelpfromSirCharlesforthelegalexpensesconnectedwithyourdivorce?"
"Exactly."
"Andthenafteryouhadsenttheletterhedissuadedyoufromkeepingtheappointment?"
"Hetoldmethatitwouldhurthisself-respectthatanyothermanshouldfindthemoneyforsuchanobject, andthatthoughhewasapoormanhimselfhewoulddevotehislastpennytoremovingtheobstacleswhichdividedus."
"Heappearstobeaveryconsistentcharacter. Andthenyouheardnothinguntilyoureadthereportsofthedeathinthepaper?"
