Этюд в багровых тонах
What John Rance had to tell.
Youknowaconjurorgetsnocreditwhenoncehehasexplainedhistrick,andifIshowyoutoomuchofmymethodofworking,youwillcometotheconclusionthatIamaveryordinaryindividualafterall.”
“Ishallneverdothat,”Ianswered;“youhavebroughtdetectionasnearanexactscienceasiteverwillbebroughtinthisworld.”
Mycompanionflushedupwithpleasureatmywords,andtheearnestwayinwhichIutteredthem. Ihadalreadyobservedthathewasassensitivetoflatteryonthescoreofhisartasanygirlcouldbeofherbeauty.
“I’lltellyouoneotherthing,”hesaid. “Patentleathers10andSquare-toescameinthesamecab,andtheywalkeddownthepathwaytogetherasfriendlyaspossible—arm-in-arm,inallprobability. Whentheygotinsidetheywalkedupanddowntheroom—orrather,Patent-leathersstoodstillwhileSquare-toeswalkedupanddown. Icouldreadallthatinthedust;andIcouldreadthatashewalkedhegrewmoreandmoreexcited.Thatisshownbytheincreasedlengthofhisstrides. Hewastalkingallthewhile,andworkinghimselfup,nodoubt,intoafury. Thenthetragedyoccurred. I’vetoldyouallIknowmyselfnow,fortherestismeresurmiseandconjecture. Wehaveagoodworkingbasis,however,onwhichtostart. Wemusthurryup,forIwanttogotoHalle’sconcerttohearNormanNerudathisafternoon.”
Thisconversationhadoccurredwhileourcabhadbeenthreadingitswaythroughalongsuccessionofdingystreetsanddrearyby-ways.
