Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
“Howdoesthisbearonthecase?”
“Well,itcorroboratestheyoungman’sstorytotheextentthatthewillwasdrawnupbyJonasOldacreinhisjourneyyesterday.Itiscurious—isitnot?—thatamanshoulddrawupsoimportantadocumentinsohaphazardafashion.Itsuggeststhathedidnotthinkitwasgoingtobeofmuchpracticalimportance.Ifamandrewupawillwhichhedidnotintendevertobeeffective,hemightdoitso.”
“Well,hedrewuphisowndeathwarrantatthesametime,”saidLestrade.
“Oh,youthinkso?”
“Don’tyou?”
“Well,itisquitepossible,butthecaseisnotcleartomeyet.”
“Notclear?Well,ifthatisn’tclear,whatcouldbeclearer?Hereisayoungmanwholearnssuddenlythat,ifacertainoldermandies,hewillsucceedtoafortune.Whatdoeshedo?Hesaysnothingtoanyone,buthearrangesthatheshallgooutonsomepretexttoseehisclientthatnight.Hewaitsuntiltheonlyotherpersoninthehouseisinbed,andtheninthesolitudeofaman’sroomhemurdershim,burnshisbodyinthewood-pile,anddepartstoaneighbouringhotel.Theblood-stainsintheroomandalsoonthestickareveryslight.Itisprobablethatheimaginedhiscrimetobeabloodlessone,andhopedthatifthebodywereconsumeditwouldhidealltracesofthemethodofhisdeath—traceswhich,forsomereason,musthavepointedtohim.Isnotallthisobvious?”
“Itstrikesme,mygoodLestrade,asbeingjustatrifletooobvious,”saidHolmes.
