Adventure IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY (3)

"What are they?"

"It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the coroner's jury."

"It was a confession," I ejaculated.

"No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence."

"Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at least a most suspicious remark."

"On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a guilty on."

I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter evidence," I remarked.

"So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged."

"What is the young man's own account of the matter?"

"It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself."

He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this way:

Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called and gave evidence as follows: "I had been away from home for three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the morning of last Monday, the 3d. My father was absent from home at the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards from the pool I heard a cry of 'Cooee!' which was a usual signal between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter."

"The Coroner: 'Did your father make any statement to you before he died?'

"Witness: 'He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some allusion to a rat.'

"The Coroner: 'What did you understand by that?'

"Witness: 'It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was delirious.'

"The Coroner: 'What was the point upon which you and your father had this final quarrel?'

"Witness: 'I should prefer not to answer.'

"The Coroner: 'I am afraid that I must press it.'

"Witness: 'It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which followed.'

"The Coroner: 'That is for the court to decide. I need not point out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case considerably in any future proceedings which may arise'

"Witness: 'I must still refuse.'

"The Coroner: 'I understand that the cry of "Cooee" was a common signal between you and your father?'

"Witness: 'It was.'

"The Coroner: 'How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol?'

"Witness (with considerable confusion): 'I do not know.'

"A Juryman: 'Did you see nothing which aroused your suspiclons when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father fatally injured?'

"Witness: 'Nothing definite.'

"The Coroner: 'What do you mean?'

"Witness: 'I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be something gray in color, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was gone.'

"'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?'

"'Yes, it was gone.'

"'You cannot say what it was?'

"'No, I had a feeling something was there.'

"'How far from the body?'

"'A dozen yards or so.'

"'And how far from the edge of the wood?'

"'About the same.'

"'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen yards of it?'

"'Yes, but with my back towards it.'

"This concluded the examination of the witness."

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Adventure IV. The Boscombe Valley Mystery (3) (с подсказками)

"What are they?"

"It appears that his arrest [q'rest] (арест) did not take place at once, but after the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector [In'spektq] (инспектор) of constabulary [kqn'stxbjulqri] (полиция) informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked [rI'mRkt] (ответил) that he was not surprised [sq'praIzd] (был не удивлен) to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts [dI'zWts] (заслужил). This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any traces ['treIsIz] (следы) of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the coroner's ['kPrqnqz] (следовательский) jury ['GuqrI] (присяжные)."

"It was a confession [kqn'feSqn] (признание)," I ejaculated [I'GxkjuleItId] (воскликнул).

"No, for it was followed by a protestation ["prqutes'teISqn] (заявление) of innocence ['Inqsqns] (невиновность)."

"Coming on the top of such a damning ['dxmIN] (зд. дьявольская) series of events, it was at least a most suspicious [sq'spISqs] (подозрительное) remark ['rI'mRk] (замечание)."

"On the contrary ['kPntrqrI] (наоборот)," said Holmes, "it is the brightest ['braItIst] (светлейший) rift [rIft] (проблеск) which I can at present see in the clouds [klaudz] (тучи). However innocent ['Inqsqnt] (невиновность) he might be, he could not be such an absolute ['xbsqlu:t] imbecile ['ImbIsi:l] (слабоумный) as not to see that the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared surprised [sq'praIzd] (удивленный) at his own arrest [q'rest] (арест), or feigned [feInd] (фальшивый) indignation ["IndIg'neISqn] (негодование) at it, I should have looked upon it as highly suspicious [sq'spISqs] (подозрительный), because such surprise or anger ['xNgq] (гнев) would not be natural under the circumstances, and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming ['skJmIN] (коварный) man. His frank [frxNk] (искреннее) acceptance [qk'septqns] (приятие) of the situation marks him as either an innocent ['Inqsqnt] (невиновный) man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint ["self-rI'streInt] (сдержанность) and firmness ['fE:mnIs] (твердость). As to his remark ['rI'mRk] (замечание) about his deserts [dI'zWts] (заслуги), it was also not unnatural [An'nxCrql] (необычный) if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day so far forgotten his filial ['fIliql] (сыновний) duty as to bandy ['bxndi]љ words (браниться, грубить) with him, and even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The self-reproach ["self-rI'pquC] (упрек) and contrition [kqn'trISqn] (раскаяние) which are displayed in his remark ['rI'mRk] (замечание) appear to me to be the signs of a healthy ['helTI] (здравый) mind rather than of a guilty ['gIltI] (виновный) one."

I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter ['slaItq] (незначительный) evidence," I remarked [rI'mRkt] (заметил).

"So they have. And many men have been wrongfully ['rPNfqli] (несправедливо) hanged."

"What is the young man?s own account of the matter?"

"It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters [sq'pLtqz] (защитники), though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive [sq'GestIv] (зд. положительны). You will find it here, and may read it for yourself."

He picked out from his bundle [bAndl] (связка) a copy of the local Herefordshireљ ['herifqdSiq] (Херефордшир) paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the paragraph ['pxrqgrRf] (заметка) in which the unfortunate [An'fLCnIt] (несчастный) young man had given his own statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the corner of the carriage ['kxrIG] (экипаж) and read it very carefully. It ran in this way:

Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased [dI'sJst] (покойный), was then called and gave evidence as follows: "I had been away from home for three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the morning of last Monday ['mAndI] (понедельник), the 3d. My father was absent ['xbsqnt] (отсутствовал) from home at the time of my arrival [q'raIvql] (прибытие), and I was informed by the maid [meId] (горничная) that he had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom [grHm] (конюх). Shortly ['SLtlI] (вскоре) after my return I heard the wheels [wJlz] (колеса) of his trap [trxp] (двуколка) in the yard, and, looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was going. I then took my gun and strolled [strquld] (пошел) out in the direction of the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit ['rxbIt] warren ['wPr(q)n] (место где водятся кролики) which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William ['wIliqm] Crowder, the game-keeper ['geIm-"kJpq] (лесник), as he had stated in his evidence; but he is mistaken [mIs'teIk(q)n] (ошибся) in thinking that I was following my father. I had no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred ['hAndrqd] (сотня) yards from the pool I heard a cry of 'Cooee!' which was a usual signal between my father and myself. I then hurried ['hArid] (поспешил) forward, and found him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised [sq'praIzd] (удивлен) at seeing me and asked me rather roughly [rAfli] (грубо) what I was doing there. A conversation ensued [In'sjHd] (последовал) which led to high words and almost to blows, for my father was a man of a very violent ['vaIqlqnt] (вспыльчивый) temper ['tempq] (характер). Seeing that his passion ['pxS(q)n] (страсть) was becoming ungovernable [An'gAvqnqbl] (неукротимый), I left him and returned towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, however, when I heard a hideous ['hIdIqs] (леденящий душу) outcry ['autkraI] (крик) behind me, which caused me to run back again. I found my father expiring [Ik'spaIqrIN] (умирающий) upon the ground, with his head terribly ['terqb(q)li] (ужасно) injured ['InGqd] (поврежденная). I dropped my gun and held him in my arms, but he almost instantly ['Instqntli] (тотчас) expired [Ik'spaIqd] (умер). I knelt [nelt] (стоял на коленях) beside him for some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge [lPG] (сторожка)-keeper, his house being the nearest ['nIqrIst] (ближайший), to ask for assistance [q'sIstqns] (помощь). I saw no one near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and forbidding [fq'bIdIN] (неприветливый) in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter."

"The Coroner ['kPrqnq] (следователь): 'Did your father make any statement to you before he died?'

"Witness ['wItnIs] (свидетель): 'He mumbled ['mAmb(q)ld] (пробормотал) a few words, but I could only catch some allusion [q'lu:Zqn] (упоминание) to a rat [rxt] (крыса).'

"The Coroner ['kPrqnq] (следователь): 'What did you understand by that?'

"Witness ['wItnIs] (свидетель): 'It conveyed [kqn'veId] (сообщило) no meaning to me. I thought that he was delirious [dI'lIriqs] (бредил).'

"The Coroner ['kPrqnq] (следователь): 'What was the point upon which you and your father had this final quarrel ['kwPrql] (ссора)?'

"Witness ['wItnIs] (свидетель): 'I should prefer not to answer.'

"The Coroner ['kPrqnq] (следователь): 'I am afraid that I must press (настаивать) it.'

"Witness ['wItnIs] (свидетель): 'It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can assure [q'Suq] (уверить) you that it has nothing to do with the sad [sxd] (печальная) tragedy ['trxGIdI] (трагедия) which followed.'

"The Coroner ['kPrqnq] (следователь): 'That is for the court to decide. I need not point out to you that your refusal [rI'fju:zql] (отказ) to answer will prejudice ['preGqdIs] (повредит) your case considerably [kqn'sId(q)rqbli] (значительно) in any future proceedings [prq'sJdINz] (судопроизводство) which may arise' [q'raIz] (возникнуть)

"Witness ['wItnIs] (свидетель): 'I must still refuse.'

"The Coroner ['kPrqnq] (следователь): 'I understand that the cry of "Cooee " was a common signal between you and your father?'

"Witness ['wItnIs] (свидетель): 'It was.'

"The Coroner ['kPrqnq] (следователь): 'How was it, then, that he uttered ['Atqd] (произнес) it before he saw you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol?'

"Witness ['wItnIs] (свидетель) (with considerable confusion [kqn'fju:Zqn] (смущенный)): 'I do not know.'

"A Juryman ['GuqrImqn] (следователь): 'Did you see nothing which aroused [q'rauzd] (пробудило) your suspicions when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father fatally ['feIt(q)li] (смертельно) injured ['InGqd] (раненый)?'

"Witness ['wItnIs] (свидетель): 'Nothing definite ['defInIt] (особенное).'

"The Coroner ['kPrqnq] (следователь): 'What do you mean?'

"Witness ['wItnIs] (свидетель): 'I was so disturbed [dI'stE:bd] (был обеспокоен) and excited [Ik'saItId] (возбужден) as I rushed [rASt] (мчался) out into the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet I have a vague [veIg] (смутный) impression that as I ran forward something lay upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be something gray [greI] (серый) in color ['kAlq] (цвет), a coat [kqut] (пальто) of some sort, or a plaid [plxd] (плед) perhaps. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was gone.'

"'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?'

"'Yes, it was gone.'

"'You cannot ['kxnqt, -nPt] (не можете) say what it was?'

"'No, I had a feeling something was there.'

"'How far from the body?'

"'A dozen [dAzn] (дюжина) yards or so.'

"'And how far from the edge of the wood?'

"'About the same.'

"'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen [dAzn] (дюжина) yards of it?'

"'Yes, but with my back towards it.'

"This concluded the examination of the witness ['wItnIs] (свидетель)."

To be continued...

Обработка Светланы <azaballa at rambler dot ru> при технической поддержке Алексея Винидиктова

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