Этюд в багровых тонах
Tobias Gregson shows what he can do.
Onhiswayhomehemetanoldshipmate,andtookalongwalkwithhim. Onbeingaskedwherethisoldshipmatelived,hewasunabletogiveanysatisfactoryreply. Ithinkthewholecasefitstogetheruncommonlywell. WhatamusesmeistothinkofLestrade,whohadstartedoffuponthewrongscent. Iamafraidhewon’tmakemuchof15Why,byJove,here’stheverymanhimself!”
ItwasindeedLestrade,whohadascendedthestairswhileweweretalking,andwhonowenteredtheroom. Theassuranceandjauntinesswhichgenerallymarkedhisdemeanouranddresswere,however,wanting. Hisfacewasdisturbedandtroubled,whilehisclothesweredisarrangedanduntidy. HehadevidentlycomewiththeintentionofconsultingwithSherlockHolmes,foronperceivinghiscolleagueheappearedtobeembarrassedandputout. Hestoodinthecentreoftheroom,fumblingnervouslywithhishatanduncertainwhattodo. “Thisisamostextraordinarycase,”hesaidatlast—“amostincomprehensibleaffair.”
“Ah,youfinditso,Mr.Lestrade!”criedGregson,triumphantly. “Ithoughtyouwouldcometothatconclusion. HaveyoumanagedtofindtheSecretary,Mr.JosephStangerson?”
“TheSecretary,Mr.JosephStangerson,”saidLestradegravely,“wasmurderedatHalliday’sPrivateHotelaboutsixo’clockthismorning.”
