Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Priory School
OneisthebicyclewiththePalmertire,andweseewhatthathasledto.TheotheristhebicyclewiththepatchedDunlop.Beforewestarttoinvestigatethat,letustrytorealizewhatwedoknow,soastomakethemostofit,andtoseparatetheessentialfromtheaccidental.”
“Firstofall,Iwishtoimpressuponyouthattheboycertainlyleftofhisownfree-will.Hegotdownfromhiswindowandhewentoff,eitheraloneorwithsomeone.Thatissure.”
Iassented.
“Well,now,letusturntothisunfortunateGermanmaster.Theboywasfullydressedwhenhefled.Therefore,heforesawwhathewoulddo.ButtheGermanwentwithouthissocks.Hecertainlyactedonveryshortnotice.”
“Undoubtedly.”
“Whydidhego?Because,fromhisbedroomwindow,hesawtheflightoftheboy,becausehewishedtoovertakehimandbringhimback.Heseizedhisbicycle,pursuedthelad,andinpursuinghimmethisdeath.”
“Soitwouldseem.”
“NowIcometothecriticalpartofmyargument.Thenaturalactionofamaninpursuingalittleboywouldbetorunafterhim.Hewouldknowthathecouldovertakehim.ButtheGermandoesnotdoso.Heturnstohisbicycle.Iamtoldthathewasanexcellentcyclist.Hewouldnotdothis,ifhedidnotseethattheboyhadsomeswiftmeansofescape.”
“Theotherbicycle.”
“Letuscontinueourreconstruction.Hemeetshisdeathfivemilesfromtheschool—notbyabullet,markyou,whichevenaladmightconceivablydischarge,butbyasavageblowdealtbyavigorousarm.Thelad,then,hadacompanioninhisflight.
