Этюд в багровых тонах
Tobias Gregson shows what he can do.
“Takeaseat,andtryoneofthesecigars,”hesaid. “Weareanxioustoknowhowyoumanagedit. Willyouhavesomewhiskeyandwater?”
“Idon’tmindifIdo,”thedetectiveanswered. “ThetremendousexertionswhichIhavegonethroughduringthelastdayortwohavewornmeout. Notsomuchbodilyexertion,youunderstand,asthestrainuponthemind. Youwillappreciatethat,Mr.SherlockHolmes,forwearebothbrain-workers.”
“Youdometoomuchhonour,”saidHolmes,gravely. “Letushearhowyouarrivedatthismostgratifyingresult.”
Thedetectiveseatedhimselfinthearm-chair,andpuffedcomplacentlyathiscigar. Thensuddenlyheslappedhisthighinaparoxysmofamusement.
“Thefunofitis,”hecried,“thatthatfoolLestrade,whothinkshimselfsosmart,hasgoneoffuponthewrongtrackaltogether. HeisafterthesecretaryStangerson,whohadnomoretodowiththecrimethanthebabeunborn. Ihavenodoubtthathehascaughthimbythistime.”
TheideatickledGregsonsomuchthathelaugheduntilhechoked.
“Andhowdidyougetyourclue?”
“Ah,I’lltellyouallaboutit. Ofcourse,DoctorWatson,thisisstrictlybetweenourselves. ThefirstdifficultywhichwehadtocontendwithwasthefindingofthisAmerican’santecedents. Somepeoplewouldhavewaiteduntiltheiradvertisementswereanswered,oruntilpartiescameforwardandvolunteeredinformation. ThatisnotTobiasGregson’swayofgoingtowork. Yourememberthehatbesidethedeadman?”
