Этюд в багровых тонах
Light in the Darkness.
Mr.Gregson,whohadlistenedtothisaddresswithconsiderableimpatience,couldcontainhimselfnolonger. “Lookhere,Mr.SherlockHolmes,”hesaid,“weareallreadytoacknowledgethatyouareasmartman,andthatyouhaveyourownmethodsofworking. Wewantsomethingmorethanmeretheoryandpreachingnow,though. Itisacaseoftakingtheman. Ihavemademycaseout,anditseemsIwaswrong. YoungCharpentiercouldnothavebeenengagedinthissecondaffair. Lestradewentafterhisman,Stangerson,anditappearsthathewaswrongtoo. Youhavethrownouthintshere,andhintsthere,andseemtoknowmorethanwedo,butthetimehascomewhenwefeelthatwehavearighttoaskyoustraighthowmuchyoudoknowofthebusiness. Canyounamethemanwhodidit?”
“IcannothelpfeelingthatGregsonisright,sir,”remarkedLestrade. “Wehavebothtried,andwehavebothfailed. YouhaveremarkedmorethanoncesinceIhavebeenintheroomthatyouhadalltheevidencewhichyourequire. Surelyyouwillnotwithholditanylonger.”
“Anydelayinarrestingtheassassin,”Iobserved,“mightgivehimtimetoperpetratesomefreshatrocity.”
Thuspressedbyusall,Holmesshowedsignsofirresolution. Hecontinuedtowalkupanddowntheroomwithhisheadsunkonhischestandhisbrowsdrawndown,aswashishabitwhenlostinthought.
“Therewillbenomoremurders,”hesaidatlast,stoppingabruptlyandfacingus. “Youcanputthatconsiderationoutofthequestion. YouhaveaskedmeifIknowthenameoftheassassin. Ido.
