Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Crooked Man
Therecouldbenoquestionthatthemostdistinctiveandsuggestivepointinthecasewasthesingulardisappearanceofthedoor-key.Amostcarefulsearchhadfailedtodiscoveritintheroom.Thereforeitmusthavebeentakenfromit.Butneitherthecolonelnorthecolonel’swifecouldhavetakenit.Thatwasperfectlyclear.Thereforeathirdpersonmusthaveenteredtheroom.Andthatthirdpersoncouldonlyhavecomeinthroughthewindow.Itseemedtomethatacarefulexaminationoftheroomandthelawnmightpossiblyrevealsometracesofthismysteriousindividual.Youknowmymethods,Watson.TherewasnotoneofthemwhichIdidnotapplytotheinquiry.Anditendedbymydiscoveringtraces,butverydifferentonesfromthosewhichIhadexpected.Therehadbeenamanintheroom,andhehadcrossedthelawncomingfromtheroad.Iwasabletoobtainfiveveryclearimpressionsofhisfootmarks:oneintheroadwayitself,atthepointwherehehadclimbedthelowwall,twoonthelawn,andtwoveryfaintonesuponthestainedboardsnearthewindowwherehehadentered.Hehadapparentlyrushedacrossthelawn,forhistoe-marksweremuchdeeperthanhisheels.Butitwasnotthemanwhosurprisedme.Itwashiscompanion."
"Hiscompanion!"
Holmespulledalargesheetoftissue-paperoutofhispocketandcarefullyunfoldedituponhisknee.
"Whatdoyoumakeofthat?"heasked.
Thepaperwascoveredwiththetracingsofthefootmarksofsomesmallanimal.
