Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Resident Patient
"
"Ishouldsaythathehasbeendeadaboutthreehours,judgingbytherigidityofthemuscles,"saidI.
"Noticedanythingpeculiarabouttheroom?"askedHolmes.
"Foundascrew-driverandsomescrewsonthewash-handstand.Seemstohavesmokedheavilyduringthenight,too.Herearefourcigar-endsthatIpickedoutofthefireplace."
"Hum!"saidHolmes,"haveyougothiscigar-holder?"
"No,Ihaveseennone."
"Hiscigar-case,then?"
"Yes,itwasinhiscoat-pocket."
Holmesopeneditandsmelledthesinglecigarwhichitcontained.
"Oh,thisisaHavana,andtheseothersarecigarsofthepeculiarsortwhichareimportedbytheDutchfromtheirEastIndiancolonies.Theyareusuallywrappedinstraw,youknow,andarethinnerfortheirlengththananyotherbrand."Hepickedupthefourendsandexaminedthemwithhispocket-lens.
"Twoofthesehavebeensmokedfromaholderandtwowithout,"saidhe."Twohavebeencutbyanotverysharpknife,andtwohavehadtheendsbittenoffbyasetofexcellentteeth.Thisisnosuicide,Mr.Lanner.Itisaverydeeplyplannedandcold-bloodedmurder."
"Impossible!"criedtheinspector.
"Andwhy?"
"Whyshouldanyonemurderamaninsoclumsyafashionasbyhanginghim?"
"Thatiswhatwehavetofindout.
