Джером К. Джером

The Best Holiday Mysteries for Christmas Time


Скачать книгу

day. Early in the morning he called at Shakeforest Towers. The blinds were down, and there was something singular upon the porter’s face when he opened the door. The steward inquired for the Duke.

      The man’s voice was subdued as he replied: ‘Sir, I am sorry to say that his Grace is dead! He left his room some time in the night, and wandered about nobody knows where. On returning to the upper floor he lost his balance and fell downstairs.’

      The steward told the tale of the Down before the Vicar had spoken. Mills had always intended to do so after the death of the Duke. The consequences to himself he underwent cheerfully; but his life was not prolonged. He died, a farmer at the Cape, when still somewhat under forty-nine years of age.

      The splendid Marlbury breeding flock is as renowned as ever, and, to the eye, seems the same in every particular that it was in earlier times; but the animals which composed it on the occasion of the events gathered from the Justice are divided by many ovine generations from its members now. Lambing Corner has long since ceased to be used for lambing purposes, though the name still lingers on as the appellation of the spot. This abandonment of site may be partly owing to the removal of the high furze bushes which lent such convenient shelter at that date. Partly, too, it may be due to another circumstance. For it is said by present shepherds in that district that during the nights of Christmas week flitting shapes are seen in the open space around the trilithon, together with the gleam of a weapon, and the shadow of a man dragging a burden into the hollow. But of these things there is no certain testimony.

      Christmas 1881.

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wBDAAMCAgMCAgMDAwMEAwMEBQgFBQQEBQoHBwYIDAoMDAsK CwsNDhIQDQ4RDgsLEBYQERMUFRUVDA8XGBYUGBIUFRT/2wBDAQMEBAUEBQkFBQkUDQsNFBQUFBQU FBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBT/wAARCAeoBXgDAREA AhEBAxEB/8QAHQABAQEAAgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAQIAAwgGBwkFBP/EAGoQAAIBAwIEBQICBgQFCw8C FwECEQADEiExBAVBUQYHEyJhCHEygQkjQpGhsRQVUsEzYnLR1BYXJCVzdIKys9LTGBkmNDZDY2R1 g4SStOHwNTc4k5SioycoRVNVZYWkwsPxREZUVpV2xP/EABwBAQEBAAMBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAABAgQF BgMHCP/EAEgRAAIBAwIFAQQHBAcHBAMAAwABEQIhMQNBBBJRYXEFBiIygRMUM5GxwdFCUqHwFRYj NHLS4TVDU2KSorIkRILxJVTCNibi/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDrxbteoQLiCIia9fHU/mx1RPKzNbFt yEQMp+KYCfMpbMRbTL2bjdRQLme5hipnIx2iguw9txmKsZG+lTJVKVxJtuFBMk/FLQRKpSxBW3K5 S3c1cEu7mhjq2JH2oJSwGLHUFSJ0moiysDEH2IpjUjrV8EWLsyWQoLm3DDcCkDmmyZlUXWcqxWOh GlMieVXH04JKInYkCkCbXZgvtaWVY6jpQk9EGAtMC9wnoBtTBZ5k0kSqhrefq+0Gfv8AFEamHEGy 9RWe0ykTEHWKndEiLVFMrADFR8gCrfYiavLAhSCbloT0FPJVP7LMirc0a2MQOvQ0Vw21hmdAoKi2 Aved6QE3lsRaS1G5nvSEiTVUSqW4kMd9BNSxqaihbF0NjcKwNhVyZnlyiQbbYrmMu/eoa95S4EOi ZDRj9qpIbBURDlBPx2qFluxvTtlC/p+7tSxOaqYkVW3eMOgA6Gqrj3qbpiFQHD0yRO9CS8yJC2sg qT/fTBFNWWY2kInEZdqQVVNbmGDGCm3WKK4utyZtmENsxOmm1LYKk1LkoqlosVSTsTG9XBE3VlmW zaf3Yn7RUSHNUrGC27twqE1A/FsKWYmqlS2cZt27iqqkEdIqWwaTals5BbCIykyZGvakGZlyjW7M MZAY/NVIOqxvRckyykTpA2pDZOZFMjhlxYaakRvS4TUOTKjBG9q5nbTSiTUklT2JW0HYm5b0iIqR e5eaFFLMrgn0zax+3SrOwj9qQC2kDrGI+aWwWancpbFskNc0A212pC3JzVK1JBRGzxaQp1jrUsaT ayV+rYBSpJ7gVbE95XJGIUqLUr2oW+WxKrbaVQR1ikQRNtXZDWLeIdUhxrqdjWWlEo0q6rpuxeS3 QwDspAgkCK1lGUnTsBcOFZDkTrrSehUolMUV/dmEmNKX3I42FQZBYrRDwIXRmyUL++hJ2DocAp02 mngq7gV9vuUT3AoVO9gS0Hk/uokHVAhSsZlQOgjenkkp4Mwwt+qzyvwKdwrvlSALbUB4InsNqWyW anYDbt3SxxMRrpvUhMJ1U7iPTuMFa2Z6Ejarke8k2mMWrIZVQsSeg3pZE96q8khLdp1/Z7adKlka mqpMTathS4kxqQNdaQiKqpuCWKcQTKkEdaWZVNBsV9MKZGsYqKdhLmUIt2EyDsSY+aQkSa3gUCWN Q8g9DVUIXq2BF9pZXXH5oVvZopguhVwTviBvRmVO6MoVlIYqbg+YoLpysCqEkgpA7mhJSwzQoUqT l+VOwU5QY27bhYJ66DapZMqbaBgpUFU+8jWjCmbsQrXMpthT0qxIlLcVyVvwQmMagb0JZ73JFksj ZZHWdAKkODXNDsWAATigAHUDWqZzlnHgCBc9Mlu0aip3Nz+zJeFt82a2Z6/ParYzLVkzKEfC2tsh RpMQBQXU1NifTQFCpiegq9iLmdzKiWXLamdydqmBLqUGVVhW9SR9t/vVsHN1BvTgMVIHzFSIwJ6l TkoAAY9dKuxMZJVfa2SKTtQs9GDcKHVfUhI/MGpEhVw3ymS3jmFtDHv3ol2Dq3bJYLaZStoT1NMY NKak5ZSoGtyUUNVJMOzMqbhwkD+FPInoZV/tW1K95oiT0ZiEUOqofdprSxVNm2TibZVhmw7VFYqc ymIQPkxDoZ270ExZXMW9SApKk/4v86uSJRMlDD0ygKOwMfnSUS8ybENo6RppiaZyJjDJCAADDFZ7 1CzvI4C2zBQSD1GtMCZVzYwRlH7qeSTaxnK2iCWAVjuBNC0p1TBmxhmLEAf2RQKcQAIuMxDmANRF MjCugR7bQgdsu5FJWDTVSvBpVVZCWnv1onsS7uAt+ncyLmDoRFSIZZlQkD4hfUxZoPXQfej6hT8M mwtXsmIbpp3pZiaqbFm0pgsDt+6rBFU9gCWoK4HGdZpCE1ZkcEQCB17UwRNswto6lmk60iRLVkb9 UxAVmUgdqWC5llGFpLikLdzYH7UidxzNZRSqZYEIRG3WiJIemWiUEd5pAmNyRathnwUkmJJOhpC2 Nc1UKWWlxbZI202NWyMtNgAHViCR+X+eoWYsYNkQM9h2oSIWDLgqCLsmdyKfMt5wUCVDEsNekbVT MTY41lff6gxHcb1EbzaCmCXmOpAj8jTJFNKMxF39WMlB3JEUzYKafeEBLeS5kk7zVsiS3eAQKkNn kCY1qIXdoKxFyYZT8dqpE4yjMgAhcVbt3qQVN7mDSrZFZHXtVJF7EhXVvcVK7feoWU1YW4YFQyXN umlWAq4cNGKlhKxpuI3qQE4yGMJAC5dytCrIIC0hoxjtRBwsGCMGI0j5oJTQ3FKqTbAg6RG1I6Cl y/eESEAxAPWBVJaQQZA5W9BtUyV2wyBbLEKUEA9qkSWYTcmNqAyekMW7UjYKreSzaW1GKSevxViC Kp1TLA2kUBoYazE0hZCqbsEpfaASmk7Usy3oUmGKqUW4RGgLdadhd3aNbDq5zKkHoRRTuHEWMvtc p7IOu29RdBtJRtiPaFAFWOhE+pKYshIZQx0yga0Rbp3ABCrK7pNS25bq6QhQhhmUiICgVcElvALZ YyQRHzUhjmRZMCUVCpGs6VSJdWcYtoTkATPQVIRqXgpkVmIJIMbkVSJtKxI9JkUBmEdY1qWL7ybb QswUFMmJ7xTsEpuAtqG/W4HTQxSFuJce6ICicQkHqDpVF9xt2EADoAWjWWokR1PDNFooSxTQwdal h70wjQqauUI6aa1fITb+ElWW2PUzDKdPwxUxcsN+7BQui4rMHgA7AVZJyxaDB0uwoYq+8RUyIdNw V0Aa2zEmd6WwWH8SKKpwwJyLEjamDKbrBkKLkHOJ6UwVNO0EqfUAGLDTehrBsVC4+7ehJeR9Q2gw DyInWrMCObYyM4YHIR9t6BpQUxbWIjYfFDKjcp7WntxDUIquoIAZDhS3aiK+wZQwDWyOk9BQJWsy cQdMQVNCzvJQtpbOUEnaYpgkt2MBC+oLhUfJp3G/LAuWYNADA/NBTCySqrZb2qdRvTBZdSuULSkF ghLdj1pBnmeJKwaPcAPvVJK2IKXccRjhP76kODSdMzuIX0wwtpp0+aRGB8XxMyKocEgiOs7URJcA GVmYjIxSzLDSgwdLhwBIJE7RSU7Fh0qSXZUDWySdeompbBaU37xSK1uAzBuwqqxmU8GOTMGKrHWK BQk0imBWQiyKETnJIAIHtBPU0NSYLIMpHakEnuKZW9DiJ6UFndBBUZu4xG0H+dTuyq9kjEreeAwB GsY1ckSdKuWrNAVGyjcjr8VfBlpZZjcKuQxUad9qBUpqxCgqkFg8CQZqI1lmyzYhXCwNRTOBEK6K BCqAtxRcOkxT5kicqwEtbzyuDXsNqFUVRCAAqAc9Ad+9QZtBSuXdyHAgAQRt81ckiFggsWK44sx6 9KkmkomSlt5BmZYYdjM1YJMWRKjIBVbAgQBULi7MuNsFDkZ3iihWF3coY2mDST0+1WyJepQUCr+7 Nh8RQzdWgHui7IV4IG1JlFVPLlEo/sVQ0ttJGpomVq7ZYIUMGK3GHQbiqZzixCsboHt9vWonJqOX coKVBxTTYEmqSZyxLERiFE60IlOSEvKVZTcEzE7VEzTpeYLkIxDXBJ2EVTKUqyJAaBFwROxGpqI1 boW2TA4gdpmr4MqFklmW2D7ZPcVMFSb3JCJcYko0xuetLMstLJSIpCqFMDqelF0I21NwUmGAtxJ2 6UQtmTBEttOxI3j+FLIstohbYkESo+KhqTlW23S5r2irc+bqXQxQYwWGQ79aQE9yYJkMwgbjtQ0u qMls29QwKdjrRIjafkcS+TB8QNIimRKVmgLlgAIB3+9AlBaKyoQSCf7VVIjabOABvUUMwnYa6n/P WYufS0OCj6kGMWVtaXIuXc2JylQMQNQKvgTa5ZU4AADP52oZTUvoTbyORdQD+zFF3K42ZlRyPeoA 20ok9xKWCSzgYqAyTUKksvJZAs64ST1q4Ipq3ALbabuBDjpFLZLNS92TlS56swSPg1cnza5Tja6S cAx/yo1qTsaVO5shZOrFmjeKYKk6sIkYEBzcY66RQt7qChaBRiGcA7gHeqZ5ocQb23CVDO2nTSpk Xpub1FVCMipGmpoFS25KV2VjlcBn9mNqvzEJqyOOLjDM3BEyI/lUvk0uVWgotcbIoykTAnpSehlK lWYn1GAAKk9Yq3YXKpDJwhXTOaFhTI2zcVzLLidhRSRqlqxkBboDG81A7BKrmpUidNAaBJuGZVRc YyAjSelCy3JOFsC5q2plgCakIs1WAlbzKDJHfqKZCmmRYW7eSkOQd+5qhczubNLVz3SzY7xsKlkI dSsKG29stgx+D1q2D5k4kQtq+zBgxIE7b0syTVSrErcs3CqhW1GwG1E07FiqlNlgoisPdjtBq4sZ uyA1q2EAZgOg7CooRqKnIwl3J1dxG+9M3F6bNHIA5RfTuAmBM6zV8GLS+ZHG1mEIdFZielZjqaVV 7MAgu3JybQba0yyzyobYDIRqF7b1VgjszkRFTMBtepNVQjDbexsXLwcSsfnSGJUHGEYt+tC4jtTy blR7pT5KGYXAiihKYdmhbbJXBnpQi6NEq4dMQyhtpMb0NRDkRKowzUsNJjWmxMvBCLcZyxcR2iop NN0pQkUS+oJyXtFDKjYBZZi2pA2ApBrmSLbeYJgVTCIUNi3UzIAqXN2EBiQcSBVuSxm9R8gNB360 uFyq5RyEQqt3nehlRuSttVGRtgGRNSDUt2k5AVu5CCCP41bMxDpOIOLhChihXbSpk+kQm8myVCyh 9Sd6CG7wWq+6GYEmqYm1isXKkYjEfNCSiYLKMYJjYmhVCySWYJCsobYmNKhUlNxVys5MpkTHaqu4 icEW/U/HmMZ2jcVFOTT5cQWZuMwDR/dQyrLBJuK6qouEzsR1pKZVS024FIEgksfkDSiI+xQDKRLD AnURvVJZrFx9wkooIOm1LhRuycTuEXLrNCp7SYKHDZogPf8Az0Ex8LIxdmCsoCLpWYZqyUp3EJiT FvfsYqibZFUVBktshxrE0JLdm7AHyUu6S42FF1ERZOxyKfVHuUqIq5M/DhgjK4KwwG01F0DTVzAG yTiCwPzVVh8WTEC1D+6TvrpTAXvWIzF5mIuMIGoqTJpLlWCg3qELmw7GmSRF4EEICguEGdyavYXd 4AKEIm6dtqCZWDC2wlxcDDfXWkCVhoCrt+EqOuNQJpZLVGCEsqlh2O9IZJU2IE3SwKEAbGmTXw7k IEdsWtsTtPamTTlKUyni1oqb9aOxle9lmcW0BbCSdxQU8ztIIwugtgNNo3oixy2kciw9yADvNPIh LDJUPqAoxO1S5bbsze2VFudNTNAr3kwsLbWcmHUAdKQkOZuxiS8kMR96oVgOLKArgt+4moFKd0UA VUgtB6GqTOwrbe5JuCRTJJS+EnNFJT0tO0VJ7GobUyKKnDmUtyY37UxgjbryzkBLqW9MZDoa0Ysr ScdstcY5AKO1RSzbhKwJbZTBEoKiUBtPyV6bE+0Lj1qwyKpJXFrbwMQBFLkTW4BWA9wUv32oWVtg VLAnJRHeiFtjMtwBpjGPypcJ0nGreooAYyBpUyaiJkoyEgXBPehFmYMtlzJchu0irDHMtgElsWXb 9qaFwpTABbbMMWKn51NTBbtFMgyBXKPnpQyna4Ehlb2yQNpoVStyh+sVAWg0JiRQqBiGO9VEvloU BViTcBB6RRWI4awSWcwYVkJpcqSv1JZlts0KwB3Kipg0pqWTktuFP485EgEdKqZhqdibgDqzfi+A ajwWm1gUFoD2yQB+ImDRXLZYYyGGGDYk9OlXsSN5HEWyy5sJ/OmBPNeBU4alwQfjeqiZ2DXV1dCN vd0qdy2w0OcqArBWIBMdaES6kqxggwzToaFhAFLn3rpU8lmFYZKjAWzE6fAq9iZvIkC2dmYka0wF c4rtokowJHwelZZumpXRQllbV4n/AOIqrBLJl2wrIA9ogDudqquZcp2ZlJUQFXA9zQmfJUnQIF/P Sr4JHUkoYMqC/TE1DSfexgoZj6i+6NJNBLS91ifUUYhBr1OwFLkXK7yZmgFcCdO