Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Reigate Puzzle
"
"Iamafraidthatmyexplanationmaydisillusionyou,butithasalwaysbeenmyhabittohidenoneofmymethods,eitherfrommyfriendWatsonorfromanyonewhomighttakeanintelligentinterestinthem.But,first,asIamrathershakenbytheknockingaboutwhichIhadinthedressing-room.IthinkthatIshallhelpmyselftoadashofyourbrandy,Colonel.Mystrengthhasbeenrathertriedoflate."
"Itrustyouhadnomoreofthosenervousattacks."
SherlockHolmeslaughedheartily."Wewillcometothatinitsturn,"saidhe."Iwilllayanaccountofthecasebeforeyouinitsdueorder,showingyouthevariouspointswhichguidedmeinmydecision.Prayinterruptmeifthereisanyinferencewhichisnotperfectlycleartoyou.
"Itisofthehighestimportanceintheartofdetectiontobeabletorecognize,outofanumberoffacts,whichareincidentalandwhichvital.Otherwiseyourenergyandattentionmustbedissipatedinsteadofbeingconcentrated.Now,inthiscasetherewasnottheslightestdoubtinmymindfromthefirstthatthekeyofthewholemattermustbelookedforinthescrapofpaperinthedeadman’shand.
"Beforegoingintothis,Iwoulddrawyourattentiontothefactthat,ifAlecCunningham’snarrativewascorrect,andiftheassailant,aftershootingWilliamKirwan,hadinstantlyfled,thenitobviouslycouldnotbehewhotorethepaperfromthedeadman’shand.
