Этюд в багровых тонах
The Lauriston Garden Mystery
“Wonderful!”Iejaculated.
“Commonplace,”saidHolmes,thoughIthoughtfromhisexpressionthathewaspleasedatmyevidentsurpriseandadmiration. “Isaidjustnowthattherewerenocriminals. ItappearsthatIamwrong—lookatthis!” Hethrewmeoverthenotewhichthecommissionairehadbrought.
“Why,”Icried,asIcastmyeyeoverit,“thisisterrible!”
“Itdoesseemtobealittleoutofthecommon,”heremarked,calmly. “Wouldyoumindreadingittomealoud?”
ThisistheletterwhichIreadtohim——
“MYDEARMR.SHERLOCKHOLMES,—
“Therehasbeenabadbusinessduringthenightat3,LauristonGardens,offtheBrixtonRoad. Ourmanonthebeatsawalightthereabouttwointhemorning,andasthehousewasanemptyone,suspectedthatsomethingwasamiss. Hefoundthedooropen,andinthefrontroom,whichisbareoffurniture,discoveredthebodyofagentleman,welldressed,andhavingcardsinhispocketbearingthenameof‘EnochJ.Drebber,Cleveland,Ohio,U.S.A.’ Therehadbeennorobbery,noristhereanyevidenceastohowthemanmethisdeath. Therearemarksofbloodintheroom,butthereisnowounduponhisperson. Weareatalossastohowhecameintotheemptyhouse;indeed,thewholeaffairisapuzzler. Ifyoucancomeroundtothehouseanytimebeforetwelve,youwillfindmethere. IhavelefteverythinginstatuquountilIhearfromyou. IfyouareunabletocomeIshallgiveyoufullerdetails,andwouldesteemitagreatkindnessifyouwouldfavourmewithyouropinion.
