Conan Doyle. The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane (adapted for intermediate)

Слова для понимания:

• subordinate — подчиненный
• lost his temper — потерял самообладание
• to put up with your insubordinate ways — мириться с таким неуважением (неподчинением)
• make arrangements for your future — начинайте устраивать свое будущее
• intolerable — невыносимый
• pulled himself together — взял себя в руки
• seemed to be — казалось, он был
• insulting — оскорбительный
• intense — в напряжении
• be brought into the matter — впутывать в это дело
• more than one person was concerned — замешано несколько человек

Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane. Part 3 (adapted for intermediate level)

The village of Fulworth lay on the coast. There were several modern houses among the old-fashioned ones and we were going towards one of them which had a corner tower and slate roof.

“That’s the Haven. Not bad for a man who started with nothing but… My god, look at that!”

The garden gate of the Haven opened and a man went out. There was no mistake about that tall familiar figure. It was Ian Murdoch, the mathematician. A moment later we came face to face with him upon the road.

“Hello!” said Stackhurst. The man nodded and continued walking but Stackhurst stopped him.

“What were you doing there?” he asked.

Murdoch’s face became red with anger. “I am your subordinate, sir, under your roof. I am not going to explain to you the reason of my private actions.”

Stackhurst who had already been nervous now lost his temper completely.

“How dare you talk to me like that, Mr. Murdoch? This is not the first time that I have had to put up with your insubordinate ways. It will certainly be the last. You will make arrangements for your future as soon as you can.”

“I had intended to do so. I have lost today my only friend at the Gables.”

He went upon his way, while Stackhurst was watching him angrily. “Is he not an intolerable man?” he cried.

As you remember Mr. Ian Murdoch was the first person who left the scene of the crime. He hurried to report the police about the murder.  Now it seemed very suspicious.  Perhaps the visit to old Tom Bellamy will throw some light upon the matter. Stackhurst pulled himself together, and we went to the house.

Mr. Bellamy was a middle-aged man with a red beard. He seemed to be in a very angry mood. “No, sir, I do not need any details. My son agrees with me,” he said, pointing to a strong young man, with a gloomy face, in the corner of the sitting-room — “that Mr. McPherson’s attentions to Maud were insulting. Yes, sir, the word ‘marriage’ was never mentioned, and yet there were letters and meetings, and a lot more! She has no mother, and we are her only guardians. We agree that —”

But he suddenly stopped talking as the lady herself appeared from the next room. Women have seldom been an attraction to me, for my brain has always governed my heart, but looking at her beautiful face, I understood that she was a real beauty. Now the girl was standing in front of us, wide-eyed and intense.

“I know already that Fitzroy is dead,” she said. “Do not be afraid to tell me the details.”

“There is no reason why my sister should be brought into the matter,” said the younger man angrily.

The sister turned a sharp look upon him. “This is my business, William. Let me manage it in my own way. There has been a crime committed. If I can help, it is the least I can do for him who is gone.”

We told her what we knew and she listened very attentively. Then said: “Mr. Holmes, you have my sympathy and my help, whoever they may be.”

“Thank you,” said I. “I value a woman’s instinct in such matters. But you use the word ‘they.’ Do you think that more than one person was concerned?”

“I knew Mr. McPherson well enough to say that he was a brave and a strong man. No single person could ever have done such upon him.”

Then I spoke of the note which had been found in the dead man’s pocket. “What can you say about it?”

“I see no reason for mystery,” she answered. “We were going to get married, and we only kept it secret because Fitzroy’s uncle, who is very old, might cut him off with a shilling if he had married against his wish. There was no other reason.”

“As to this note” — she took out a piece of paper from her pocket— “it was in answer to this.”

DEAREST,

The old place on the beach just after sunset on Tuesday. It is the only time I can get away.

F.M.

“Tuesday was today, and I was going to meet him tonight.”

Then she added that she had no reason to think that Mr. McPherson had any enemies, but she admitted that she had several warm admirers.

“May I ask if Mr. Ian Murdoch was one of his friends?

She seemed confused.

“There was a time when I thought he was. But that all changed when he understood the relations between Fitzroy and myself.”

That was all. The shadow round this strange man seemed to take more definite shape. His rooms must be privately searched. Stackhurst was going to help me and we hurried to the Gables.