Золотой жук / The Gold-bug (сборник)

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Эдгар Аллан По. Золотой жук / The Gold-bug (сборник)

The facts in the case of M. Valdemar

Что случилось с господином Вальдемаром

Ms. found in a bottle[3]

Рукопись, найденная в бутылке[4]

The Purloined Letter

Украденное письмо

The Pit and the Pendulum

Колодец и маятник

The gold-bug

Золотой жук

Отрывок из книги

Of course I shall not pretend to consider it any matter for wonder that the extraordinary case of M. Valdemar has excited discussion. It would have been a miracle had it not – especially under the circumstances. Through the desire of all parties concerned to keep the affair from the public, at least for the present, or until we had further opportunities for investigation – through our endeavours to effect this – a garbled or exaggerated account made its way into society, and became the source of many unpleasant misrepresentations; and, very naturally, of a great deal of disbelief.

It is now rendered necessary that I give the facts – as far as I comprehend them myself. They are, succinctly, these: —

.....

«M. Valdemar, do you still sleep?»

As before, some minutes elapsed ere a reply was made; and during the interval the dying man seemed to be collecting his energies to speak. At my fourth repetition of the question, he said very faintly, almost inaudibly —

.....