Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Abbey Grange
Onlyone,butaveryformidableperson.Strongasalion—witnesstheblowthatbentthatpoker!Sixfootthreeinheight,activeasasquirrel,dexterouswithhisfingers,finally,remarkablyquick-witted,forthiswholeingeniousstoryisofhisconcoction.Yes,Watson,wehavecomeuponthehandiworkofaveryremarkableindividual.Andyet,inthatbell-rope,hehasgivenusacluewhichshouldnothaveleftusadoubt.”
“Wherewastheclue?”
“Well,ifyouweretopulldownabell-rope,Watson,wherewouldyouexpectittobreak?Surelyatthespotwhereitisattachedtothewire.Whyshoulditbreakthreeinchesfromthetop,asthisonehasdone?”
“Becauseitisfrayedthere?”
“Exactly.Thisend,whichwecanexamine,isfrayed.Hewascunningenoughtodothatwithhisknife.Buttheotherendisnotfrayed.Youcouldnotobservethatfromhere,butifyouwereonthemantelpieceyouwouldseethatitiscutcleanoffwithoutanymarkoffrayingwhatever.Youcanreconstructwhatoccurred.Themanneededtherope.Hewouldnottearitdownforfearofgivingthealarmbyringingthebell.Whatdidhedo?Hespranguponthemantelpiece,couldnotquitereachit,puthiskneeonthebracket—youwillseetheimpressioninthedust—andsogothisknifetobearuponthecord.Icouldnotreachtheplacebyatleastthreeinches—fromwhichIinferthatheisatleastthreeinchesabiggermanthanI.Lookatthatmarkupontheseatoftheoakenchair!Whatisit?”
“Blood.”
“Undoubtedlyitisblood.Thisaloneputsthelady’sstoryoutofcourt.
