Crooked House / Скрюченный домишко. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Sophia led me to a rock-garden, now somewhat neglected, where there was a rustic wooden seat of great discomfort, and we sat down.

�Well?’ she said.

Her voice was not encouraging.

I said my piece—all of it.

She listened very attentively. Her face gave little indication of what she was thinking, but when I came at last to a full stop, she sighed. It was a deep sigh.

�Your father,’ she said, �is a very clever man.’

�The Old Man has his points. I think it’s a rotten idea myself—but—’

She interrupted me.

�Oh no,’ she said. �It isn’t a rotten idea at all. It’s the only thing that might be any good. Your father, Charles, knows exactly what’s been going on in my mind. He knows better than you do.’

With a sudden almost despairing vehemence, she drove one clenched hand into the palm of the other.

I’ve got to have the truth. I’ve got to know!

�Because of us? But, dearest—’

�Not only because of us, Charles. I’ve got to know for my own peace of mind.

�Afraid?’

�Yes—afraid—afraid—afraid. The police think, your father thinks, you think, everybody thinks—that it was Brenda.’

�The probabilities—’

�Oh yes, it’s quite probable. It’s possible. But when I say, “Brenda probably did it,” I’m quite conscious that it’s only wishful thinking. Because, you see, I don’t really think so!

�You don’t think so?’ I said slowly.

�I don’t know. You’ve heard about it all from the outside as I wanted you to. Now I’ll show it you from the inside. I simply don’t feel that Brenda is that kind of a person— she’s not the sort of person, I feel, who would ever do anything that might involve her in any danger. She’s far too careful of herself.’

�How about this young man? Laurence Brown.’

�Laurence is a complete rabbit. He wouldn’t have the guts[47 - to have the guts – осмелиться].

�I wonder.’

�Yes, we don’t really know, do we? I mean, people are capable of[48 - to be capable of – быть способным (на ч.-л.)] surprising one frightfully. One gets an idea of them into one’s head, and sometimes it’s absolutely wrong. Not always—but sometimes. But all the same, Brenda’—she shook her head—�she’s always acted so completely in character. She’s what I call the harem type.