The Noble Bachelor (знатный холостяк) 9 page

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 333.

Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes (Холмс сидел молча несколько минут), with his brows knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire (нахмурив брови и устремив взгляд на огонь; to knit — вязать; соединять/ся/, скреплять/ся/; хмурить /брови/).

“Do you receive much company (вы принимаете много гостей = у вас часто бывают гости)?” he asked.

“None save my partner with his family (нет, никого не бывает, кроме моего компаньона с семьей) and an occasional friend of Arthur's (и иногда друзей Артура). Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately (сэр Джордж Бэрнвелл был недавно несколько раз; lately — недавно; за последнее время, в последнее время, на днях). No one else, I think (больше никого, пожалуй).”

“Do you go out much in society (а вы часто бываете в обществе)?”

“Arthur does (Артур — да). Mary and I stay at home (мы с Мэри сидим дома). We neither of us care for it (ни мне, ни ей это /выход в свет/ не интересно).”

knitted [`nItId], company [`kAmpqnI], society [sq`saIqtI], neither [`naIDq]

He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got beyond words.

Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire.

“Do you receive much company?” he asked.

“None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No one else, I think.”

“Do you go out much in society?”

“Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for it.”

“That is unusual in a young girl (это необычно для молодой девушки).”

“She is of a quiet nature (она тихого нрава). Besides, she is not so very young (кроме того, она не такая уж юная). She is four-and-twenty (ей двадцать четыре).”

“This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to her also (эта история, судя по вашим словам, кажется, стала для нее потрясением).”

“Terrible (ужасным)! She is even more affected than I (она потрясена даже больше, чем я).”

“You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt (ни у нее, ни у вас нет никаких сомнений относительно виновности Артура)?”

“How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet in his hands (какие у нас могут быть сомнения, когда я своими глазами видел, как он держал диадему в руках).”

“I hardly consider that a conclusive proof (я не могу считать это окончательным = неопровержимым доказательством). Was the remainder of the coronet at all injured (была ли повреждена оставшаяся часть диадемы)?”

“Yes, it was twisted (да, она была погнута).”

“Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to straighten it (а вы не думаете, что, возможно, Артур пытался выпрямить ее; straight — прямой, неизогнутый)?”

unusual [An`jHZuql; An`jHZ(q)l], affected [q`fektId], straighten [streItn]

“That is unusual in a young girl.”

“She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She is four‑and‑twenty.”

“This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to her also.”

“Terrible! She is even more affected than I.”

“You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?”

“How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet in his hands.”

“I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of the coronet at all injured?”

“Yes, it was twisted.”

“Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to straighten it?”

“God bless you (что вы: «благослови вас Бог»)! You are doing what you can for him and for me (вы делаете все, что можете, для него и для меня). But it is too heavy a task (но это невозможно: «слишком трудная задача»). What was he doing there at all (что он вообще там делал)? If his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so (если его намерения были чистыми, почему он не сказал этого; innocent — невиновный, невинный; чистый)?”

“Precisely (совершенно верно). And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie (но если он был виновен, почему же он не солгал /в свое оправдание/: «не выдумал ложь»)? His silence appears to me to cut both ways (его молчание, по-моему, указывает и на то, и на другое; to cut both ways — быть обоюдоострым; иметь как положительные, так и отрицательные стороны). There are several singular points about the case (в этом деле есть несколько неясных деталей; singular — единичный; необычный, своеобразный, странный). What did the police think of the noise (что полиция подумала о шуме) which awoke you from your sleep (который разбудил вас)?”

“They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his bedroom door (они посчитали, что его мог вызвать Артур, закрывая дверь своей спальни).”

“A likely story (очень правдоподобная версия)! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door so as to wake a household (человек, решившийся на преступление, хлопает дверью, чтобы разбудить весь дом; to bend — изгибать/ся/; направляться; to be bent on something — решиться на что-либо; твердо решить сделать что-либо). What did they say, then, of the disappearance of these gems (а что они сказали насчет исчезновения тех камней)?”

“They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture in the hope of finding them (они по-прежнему простукивают стены и обследуют мебель в надежде отыскать их; planking — обшивка досками; доски; настил).”

“Have they thought of looking outside the house (а они не думали искать вне дома)?”

innocent [`Inqs(q)nt], invent [In`vent], furniture [`fq:nICq]

“God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?”

“Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several singular points about the case. What did the police think of the noise which awoke you from your sleep?”

“They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his bedroom door.”

“A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the disappearance of these gems?”

“They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture in the hope of finding them.”

“Have they thought of looking outside the house?”

“Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy (да, они проявили исключительную энергию). The whole garden has already been minutely examined (весь сад уже тщательно прочесали: «был тщательно/детально обследован»).”

“Now, my dear sir (ну, мой дорогой сэр),” said Holmes. “is it not obvious to you now that this matter really strikes very much deeper (разве вам еще не очевидно, что эта история оказалась гораздо глубже и сложнее; to strike — ударять/ся/; проникать сквозь) than either you or the police were at first inclined to think (чем первоначально считали вы и полиция; to be inclined — быть склонным)? It appeared to you to be a simple case (вам казалось, что это простое дело); to me it seems exceedingly complex (а мне оно представляется чрезвычайно сложным). Consider what is involved by your theory (смотрите, что по вашей теории вовлечено /в эту историю/ = вот как, по-вашему, развивались события; to consider — рассматривать; принимать во внимание, учитывать). You suppose that your son came down from his bed (вы полагаете, что ваш сын поднялся с постели), went, at great risk, to your dressing‑room (пошел, сильно рискуя: «с большим риском», в вашу комнату), opened your bureau, took out your coronet (открыл бюро, достал диадему), broke off by main force a small portion of it (отломал с большим трудом небольшую часть), went off to some other place (вышел куда-то), concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine (спрятал три драгоценных камня из тридцати девяти), with such skill that nobody can find them (с такой cноровкой, что никто не может их найти), and then returned with the other thirty-six into the room (а затем вернулся с остальными тридцатью шестью в вашу комнату) in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger of being discovered (где подверг себя огромной опасности быть обнаруженным). I ask you now, is such a theory tenable (и теперь я спрашиваю вас: разве это разумная, правдоподобная теория; tenable — крепкий, прочный; здравый, разумный, логичный)?”

“But what other is there (но что тогда произошло: «какая другая /теория/»)?” cried the banker with a gesture of despair (воскликнул банкир, взмахнув в отчаянии руками: «с жестом отчаяния»). “If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain them (если его намерения были невинными, почему он молчит: «не объясняет их»)?”

minutely [`mInItlI], obvious [`ObvIqs], tenable [`tenqbl]

“Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has already been minutely examined.”

“Now, my dear sir,” said Holmes. “is it not obvious to you now that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing‑room, opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, concealed three gems out of the thirty‑nine, with such skill that nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?”

“But what other is there?” cried the banker with a gesture of despair. “If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain them?”

“It is our task to find that out (нашей задачей и является выяснить это),” replied Holmes (ответил Холмс); “so now, if you please, Mr. Holder (а теперь, мистер Холдер, с вашего позволения), we will set off for Streatham together (мы отправимся вместе в Стритем), and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into details (и потратим: «посвятим» час, чтобы вникнуть в детали немного более внимательно; closely — близко; вплотную, тесно; густо, плотно; внимательно, тщательно).”

My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition (мой друг настоял, чтобы я сопровождал их в этой поездке), which I was eager enough to do (что я охотно и сделал), for my curiosity and sympathy were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened (так как история, которую мы услышали, пробудила во мне сильное любопытство и глубокое сочувствие). I confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be as obvious (признаюсь, виновность сына банкира казалась мне столь же очевидной) as it did to his unhappy father (как и несчастному отцу), but still I had such faith in Holmes's judgment that I felt (и все же я настолько верил в чутье Холмса, что понимал; faith — вера, доверие) that there must be some grounds for hope (что должны быть какие-то основания для надежды) as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted explanation (раз он недоволен признанным объяснением). He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the southern suburb (он почти не проронил ни слова на всем пути к южной окраине; suburb — окраина, пригород), but sat with his chin upon his breast (но сидел, опустив голову на грудь; chin — подбородок) and his hat drawn over his eyes (и надвинув шляпу на глаза), sunk in the deepest thought (погруженный в глубочайшее раздумье).

accompanying [q`kAmpqnIIN], sympathy [`sImpqTI], suburb [`sAbq:b]

“It is our task to find that out,” replied Holmes; “so now, if you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into details.”

My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such faith in Holmes's judgment that I felt that there must be some grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought.

Our client appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope (казалось, наш клиент воспрянул духом от слабого проблеска надежды; to take heart — воспрянуть духом, приободриться; glimpse — мелькание; проблеск, слабый свет, слабая вспышка) which had been presented to him (которою ему подали; to present — представлять; дарить, преподносить), and he even broke into a desultory chat with me over his business affairs (и он даже пустился/затеял со мной бесцельный разговор о своих коммерческих делах; desultory — несвязный, отрывочный; бессвязный, несистематический; бесцельный). A short railway journey (короткая поездка по железной дороге) and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank (и еще более короткая прогулка пешком привели нас в Фэрбенк), the modest residence of the great financier (скромную резиденцию крупного финансиста).

Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone (Фэрбенк представлял собой большой квадратный дом из белого камня), standing back a little from the road (расположенный недалеко: «немного отстоящий» от /главной/ дороги). A double carriage-sweep (/от которой к дому поворачивала/ дорога для двух экипажей; sweep — кривая; изгиб; поворот /дороги/: a wide sweep leads up to the house — дорога к дому широко изогнулась дугой), with a snow-clad lawn (/проходила через/ покрытую снегом лужайку), stretched down in front to two large iron gates (и упиралась в большие железные ворота) which closed the entrance (закрывавшие подъезд /к дому/). On the right side was a small wooden thicket (справа находился небольшой лесок; thicket — чаща, заросль; поросль; молодой лес), which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges (который переходил в узкую тропинку между двумя аккуратными изгородями) stretching from the road to the kitchen door (тянущуюся от дороги до двери кухни), and forming the tradesmen's entrance (и образовавшую вход для торговцев = этой дорогой доставлялись продукты; tradesman — торговец, лавочник; tradesmen's entrance — служебный вход /в магазине/). On the left ran a lane which led to the stables (налево шла дорожка, которая вела к конюшням; lane — узкая дорога, тропинка /обычно между живыми изгородями/), and was not itself within the grounds at all (она, собственно, не относилась к владениям), being a public, though little used, thoroughfare (а являлась общественной, хотя и мало используемой, дорогой; thoroughfare — оживленная улица; главная артерия /города/, главная дорога; путь общего пользования). Holmes left us standing at the door and walked slowly all round the house (Холмс оставил нас у дверей и медленно обошел вокруг дома), across the front (прошел вдоль фасада), down the tradesmen's path (по дорожке, ведущей к кухне), and so round by the garden behind into the stable lane (и дальше через сад позади вышел на дорожку к конюшням).

desultory [`des(q)lt(q)rI], financier [f(a)I`nxnsIq], thoroughfare [`TArqfeq]

Our client appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest residence of the great financier.

Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden behind into the stable lane.

So long was he that Mr. Holder and I went into the dining-room (его не было так долго, что мы с мистером Холдером вошли в столовую) and waited by the fire until he should return (и принялись ждать, /сев/ у камина, пока он вернется). We were sitting there in silence (мы сидели молча) when the door opened and a young lady came in (как вдруг дверь отворилась, и вошла молодая девушка). She was rather above the middle height (она была немного выше среднего роста), slim (стройная), with dark hair and eyes (с темными волосами и глазами), which seemed the darker against the absolute pallor of her skin (которые казались еще темнее на фоне совершенной бледности ее кожи). I do not think that I have ever seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face (не думаю, что когда-либо видел такую мертвенную бледность женского лица). Her lips, too, were bloodless (ее губы также были совсем побелевшие; bloodless — бескровный, бледный), but her eyes were flushed with crying (а глаза, напротив, покраснели от слез). As she swept silently into the room (когда она тихо вошла в комнату) she impressed me with a greater sense of grief (то поразила меня еще бóльшим ощущением горести = она показалась мне более горюющей) than the banker had done in the morning (чем банкир утром), and it was the more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong character (и это было особенно необыкновенно, так как она, по-видимому, была женщиной сильного характера), with immense capacity for self-restraint (и обладала огромным самообладанием: «с огромной способностью к самообладанию»; to restrain — сдерживать; обуздывать). Disregarding my presence (не обращая внимания на мое присутствие), she went straight to her uncle (она подошла сразу к дяде) and passed her hand over his head with a sweet womanly caress (и провела рукой по его волосам с женской нежностью и лаской = нежно, ласково провела рукой по его волосам; caress — ласка; проявление нежности).

height [haIt], bloodless [`blAdlIs], grief [grJf], capacity [kq`pxsItI]

So long was he that Mr. Holder and I went into the dining‑room and waited by the fire until he should return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand over his head with a sweet womanly caress.

“You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated (вы распорядились, чтобы Артура освободили; liberty — свобода), have you not, dad (не так ли, папа)?” she asked.

“No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom (нет, моя девочка, дело нужно расследовать до конца).”

“But I am so sure that he is innocent (но я уверена, он невиновен). You know what woman's instincts are (вы знаете, что такое женское чутье). I know that he has done no harm (я знаю, что он не сделал ничего дурного; harm — вред; убыток, урон, ущерб) and that you will be sorry for having acted so harshly (и вы пожалеете, что поступили /с ним/ столь сурово).”

“Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent (почему же тогда он молчит, если невиновен)?”

“Who knows (кто знает)? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should suspect him (возможно, потому что очень рассердился, что вы подозреваете его).”

“How could I help suspecting him (как же мне его не подозревать), when I actually saw him with the coronet in his hand (если я действительно видел его с диадемой в руках)?”

“Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it (ну, он только взял ее, чтобы посмотреть). Oh, do, do take my word for it that he is innocent (о, поверьте мне, он невиновен; to take smb.'s word for it — верить на слово). Let the matter drop and say no more (прекратите это дело, хватит /прошу вас/; to drop — бросать, прекращать; снимать, отменять: to drop charges — снять обвинения). It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in prison (как ужасно думать о том, что наш дорогой Артур в тюрьме)!”

instinct [`InstINkt], suspecting [sq`spektIN], prison [`prIz(q)n]

“You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you not, dad?” she asked.

“No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom.”

“But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will be sorry for having acted so harshly.”

“Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?”

“Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should suspect him.”

“How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with the coronet in his hand?”

“Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in prison!”

“I shall never let it drop until the gems are found — never, Mary (я не прекращу дела, пока камни не будут найдены, Мэри)! Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences to me (твоя привязанность к Артуру ослепляет тебя настолько, что ты /забываешь/ об ужасных для меня последствиях). Far from hushing the thing up (я не собираюсь замалчивать это дело; far from — далек от; to hush up — замалчивать, скрывать; замять), I have brought a gentleman down from London to inquire more deeply into it (я пригласил одного джентльмена из Лондона для более тщательного расследования).”

“This gentleman (этого джентльмена)?” she asked, facing round to me (спросила она, поворачиваясь ко мне).

“No, his friend (нет, его друга). He wished us to leave him alone (он захотел, чтобы мы оставили его одного). He is round in the stable lane now (сейчас он идет по дорожке, ведущей к конюшне).”

“The stable lane?” She raised her dark eyebrows (она подняла темные брови). “What can he hope to find there (что он надеется там найти)? Ah! this, I suppose, is he (а вот, полагаю, он сам). I trust, sir, that you will succeed in proving (я надеюсь, сэр, вам удастся доказать), what I feel sure is the truth (в чем я убеждена), that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime (что мой кузен Артур невиновен в этом преступлении).”

awful [`Lf(q)l], consequence [`kOnsIkwqns], eyebrow [`aIbrau]

“I shall never let it drop until the gems are found — never, Mary! Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman down from London to inquire more deeply into it.”

“This gentleman?” she asked, facing round to me.

“No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in the stable lane now.”

“The stable lane?” She raised her dark eyebrows. “What can he hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime.”

“I fully share your opinion (полностью разделяю ваше мнение), and I trust, with you, that we may prove it (и надеюсь, с вашей помощью, мы сможем это доказать),” returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the snow from his shoes (ответил Холмс, возвращаясь к половику и стряхивая снег с ботинок). “I believe I have the honor of addressing Miss Mary Holder (полагаю, я имею честь говорить с мисс Мэри Холдер). Might I ask you a question or two (могу я задать вам пару вопросов)?”

“Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up (конечно, сэр, если это поможет распутать ужасное дело).”

“You heard nothing yourself last night (вы ничего не слышали прошлой ночью)?”

“Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly (ничего, пока мой дядя не начал громко говорить). I heard that, and I came down (я услышала его и спустилась).”

“You shut up the windows and doors the night before (вы закрывали окна и двери накануне вечером). Did you fasten all the windows (вы заперли все окна)?”

“Yes.”

“Were they all fastened this morning (они все были заперты сегодня утром)?”

“Yes.”

prove [prHv], knock [nOk], loudly [`laudlI], fastened [`fRs(q)nd]

“I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may prove it,” returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the snow from his shoes. “I believe I have the honor of addressing Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?”

“Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up.”

“You heard nothing yourself last night?”

“Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard that, and I came down.”

“You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you fasten all the windows?”

“Yes.”

“Were they all fastened this morning?”

“Yes.”

“You have a maid who has a sweetheart (у вас работает горничная, у которой есть возлюбленный)? I think that you remarked to your uncle last night (вы говорили дяде вчера вечером) that she had been out to see him (что она вышла повидаться с ним)?”

“Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room (да, она была той девушкой, что подавала нам /кофе/ в гостиной; to wait — ждать; прислуживать, обслуживать /за столом и т. п./). And who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet (и /была тем/ кто мог слышать замечания дяди о диадеме = как дядя рассказывал о диадеме).”

“I see (понятно). You infer that she may have gone out to tell her sweetheart (вы подразумеваете, что она могла выйти из дому и сообщить /об этом/ своему возлюбленному; to infer — заключать; делать /логический/ вывод; выводить /заключение, следствие; из чего-л./; делать предположение, высказывать догадку), and that the two may have planned the robbery (и они вместе могли спланировать ограбление).”

“But what is the good of all these vague theories (но какой толк от этих всех туманных предположений; vague — расплывчатый),” cried the banker impatiently (нетерпеливо воскликнул банкир; patient — терпеливый), “when I have told you that I saw Arthur with the coronet in his hands (ведь я уже сказал вам, что видел Артура с диадемой в руках)?”

“Wait a little, Mr. Holder (подождите немного, мистер Холдер). We must come back to that (мы к этому /еще/ вернемся). About this girl, Miss Holder (/теперь/ относительно этой девушки, мисс Холдер). You saw her return by the kitchen door, I presume (полагаю, вы видели, как она вернулась через дверь кухни)?”

“Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I met her slipping in (да, когда я пошла посмотреть, заперта ли на ночь дверь, я увидела, как она тихо входила; to slip in — прокрасться, незаметно войти; to slip — скользить). I saw the man, too, in the gloom (я также видела в темноте ее поклонника).”

“Do you know him (вы знаете его)?”

sweetheart [`swJthRt], vague [veIg], impatiently [Im`peIS(q)ntlI], presume [prI`zjHm]

“You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?”

“Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing‑room. And who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet.”

“I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery.”

“But what is the good of all these vague theories,” cried the banker impatiently, “when I have told you that I saw Arthur with the coronet in his hands?”

“Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I presume?”

“Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom.”

“Do you know him?”

“Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round (он зеленщик, который приносит нам овощи). His name is Francis Prosper (его зовут Фрэнсис Проспер).”

“He stood (он стоял),” said Holmes, “to the left of the door — that is to say (слева от двери, другими словами), farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door (дальше по дорожке, чем необходимо, чтобы достать до двери)?”