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

Слова для понимания:

• save — кроме
• a loose roundish mass of yellowish fibres — масса шевелящихся желтоватых щупалец
• fearful stinger — страшная ядовитая медуза
• radiate — излучать
• a red-hot needle — раскаленная игла

Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane. Part 7 (adapted for intermediate level)

When we got to my house we found that Murdoch was so much better that he could sit up. But every now and then he was shaken by pain. In broken words he explained that he had no idea what had happened to him, save that terrible pain he had suddenly felt.
“Here is a book,” I said, taking up the little volume, “which helped me in solving the mystery. It is «Out of Doors», by the famous naturalist, J. G. Wood. Wood himself nearly died from contact with this evil creature, so he decided to write the book and decribe this peril of the seas. Cyanea capillata is its full name, and it can be as dangerous to life as, and much more painful than the bite of the cobra. Let me read out.
“If the swimmer sees a loose roundish mass of yellowish fibres, which lookes like a tangle mass torn from a lion’s mane, beware, for this is the fearful stinger, Cyanea capillata.”

“This book tells about his own experience when he was swimming near the coast of Kent. He found that the creature radiated almost invisible threads to the distance of fifty feet, and that anyone within that circle was in danger of death.

“The numerous threads were like red-hot needles making its way through the nerves.”
“Yes,” said Murdoch, “Pain in the chest caused me to fall as if struck by a bullet. Then the heart gave six or seven leaps as if it jumped out of the chest.»
“It nearly killed him. There is the book, Inspector. It contains a full explanation of the tragedy of poor McPherson.”
“And it helped me indeed,” remarked Ian Murdoch with a wry smile. “I do not blame you, Inspector, nor you, Mr. Holmes, for your suspicions were natural. I felt that you were going to arrest me, but this thing helped me although I nearly have shared the fate of my poor friend. But how did you know, Mr. Holmes?”
“I have a good memory for trifles. That phrase ‘the Lion’s Mane’ haunted my mind. I knew that I had seen it somewhere in a book. You see that it describes the creature. I have no doubt that it was floating on the water when McPherson saw it, and his last words were a warning to the creature which had been his death.”
“Unfortunately, I was slow to guess. If the body had been found in the water I wouldn’t have missed it. But the towel was dry. So I thought that the poor fellow had never been in the water. Why, then, should I suggest the attack of any water creature?”

“All is clear but before I go,” said Murdoch, rising slowly to his feet, “I would like to say a few words about the lady. It is true that I loved her, but from the day when she chose my friend McPherson I have to stand aside. My only wish was to help her to happiness. Often I carried their messages, and it was because I was their confident. Because she was so dear to me, I hurried to tell her of my friend’s death so that nobody could do it before in a more sudden and heartless manner.”

Stackhurst shook his hand. “Forgive what is past, Murdoch,” he said. “We shall understand each other better in the future.”

“Well, you’ve done it!” cried the inspector at last. “I had read of you, but I never believed it. It’s wonderful!” And he shook my hand.

THE END