|
| " 'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. | "Что бы это могло значить, Джон?" - пробормотал он. |
| " 'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. | Мое сердце окаменело. |
| 'What have I to do with sundials and papers? | "Это "К.К.К."", - ответил я. |
| I shall take no notice of such nonsense.' | Отец заглянул внутрь конверта. |
| " 'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. | "Да, здесь те же буквы. |
| " 'And be laughed at for my pains. | Но что это написано под ними?" |
| Nothing of the sort.' | "Положите бумаги на солнечные часы", -прочитал я, взглянув ему через плечо. |
| " 'Then let me do so?' | "Какие бумаги? |
| " 'No, I forbid you. | Какие солнечные часы?" - спросил он. |
| I won't have a fuss made about such nonsense.' | "Солнечные часы в саду, других здесь нет. |
| "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate man. | Но бумаги, должно быть, те, которые уничтожены". |
| I went about, however, with a heart which was full of forebodings. | "Черт возьми! - сказал он. |
| "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. | - Мы живем в цивилизованной стране и не можем принимать всерьез такую чушь. |
| I was glad that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from danger when he was away from home. | Откуда это письмо?" |
| In that, however, I was in error. | "Из Данди", - ответил я, взглянув на почтовый штемпель. |
| Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram from the major, imploring me to come at once. | "Чья-нибудь нелепая шутка, - сказал он. |
| My father had fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. | - Какое мне дело до солнечных часов и бумаг? |
| I hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered his consciousness. | Нечего и обращать внимания на этакий вздор!" |
| He had, as it appears, been returning from Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' | "Я бы сообщил полиции", - сказал я. |
| Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of murder. | "Чтобы меня высмеяли? |
| There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. | И не подумаю". |
| And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been woven round him. |