Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez
ThisWilloughbySmithhasnothingagainsthim,eitherasaboyatUppinghamorasayoungmanatCambridge.Ihaveseenhistestimonials,andfromthefirsthewasadecent,quiet,hard-workingfellow,withnoweakspotinhimatall.Andyetthisistheladwhohasmethisdeaththismorningintheprofessor’sstudyundercircumstanceswhichcanpointonlytomurder.”
Thewindhowledandscreamedatthewindows.HolmesandIdrewclosertothefire,whiletheyounginspectorslowlyandpointbypointdevelopedhissingularnarrative.
“IfyouweretosearchallEngland,”saidhe,“Idon’tsupposeyoucouldfindahouseholdmoreself-containedorfreerfromoutsideinfluences.Wholeweekswouldpass,andnotoneofthemgopastthegardengate.Theprofessorwasburiedinhisworkandexistedfornothingelse.YoungSmithknewnobodyintheneighbourhood,andlivedverymuchashisemployerdid.Thetwowomenhadnothingtotakethemfromthehouse.Mortimer,thegardener,whowheelstheBathchair,isanarmypensioner—anoldCrimeanmanofexcellentcharacter.Hedoesnotliveinthehouse,butinathree-roomedcottageattheotherendofthegarden.ThosearetheonlypeoplethatyouwouldfindwithinthegroundsofYoxleyOldPlace.Atthesametime,thegateofthegardenisahundredyardsfromthemainLondontoChathamroad.Itopenswithalatch,andthereisnothingtopreventanyonefromwalkingin.
“NowIwillgiveyoutheevidenceofSusanTarlton,whoistheonlypersonwhocansayanythingpositiveaboutthematter.Itwasintheforenoon,betweenelevenandtwelve.
