Этюд в багровых тонах
Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
“Dr.Watson,Mr.SherlockHolmes,”saidStamford,introducingus.
“Howareyou?”hesaidcordially,grippingmyhandwithastrengthforwhichIshouldhardlyhavegivenhimcredit.“YouhavebeeninAfghanistan,Iperceive.”
“Howonearthdidyouknowthat?”Iaskedinastonishment.
“Nevermind,”saidhe,chucklingtohimself.“Thequestionnowisabouthoemoglobin.Nodoubtyouseethesignificanceofthisdiscoveryofmine?”
“Itisinteresting,chemically,nodoubt,”Ianswered,“butpractically——”
“Why,man,itisthemostpracticalmedico-legaldiscoveryforyears. Don’tyouseethatitgivesusaninfallibletestforbloodstains. Comeoverherenow!”Heseizedmebythecoat-sleeveinhiseagerness,anddrewmeovertothetableatwhichhehadbeenworking. “Letushavesomefreshblood,”hesaid,diggingalongbodkinintohisfinger,anddrawingofftheresultingdropofbloodinachemicalpipette. “Now,Iaddthissmallquantityofbloodtoalitreofwater. Youperceivethattheresultingmixturehastheappearanceofpurewater. Theproportionofbloodcannotbemorethanoneinamillion. Ihavenodoubt,however,thatweshallbeabletoobtainthecharacteristicreaction.” Ashespoke,hethrewintothevesselafewwhitecrystals,andthenaddedsomedropsofatransparentfluid. Inaninstantthecontentsassumedadullmahoganycolour,andabrownishdustwasprecipitatedtothebottomoftheglassjar.
“Ha!ha!”hecried,clappinghishands,andlookingasdelightedasachildwithanewtoy.
