Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
“Itisnownecessarythatweshouldtrytothrowsomelightuponthisthirdbullet,whichhasclearly,fromthesplinteringofthewood,beenfiredfrominsidetheroom.IshouldliketoseeMrs.King,thecook,again.Yousaid,Mrs.King,thatyouwereawakenedbyaloudexplosion.Whenyousaidthat,didyoumeanthatitseemedtoyoutobelouderthanthesecondone?”
“Well,sir,itwakenedmefrommysleep,soitishardtojudge.Butitdidseemveryloud.”
“Youdon’tthinkthatitmighthavebeentwoshotsfiredalmostatthesameinstant?”
“IamsureIcouldn’tsay,sir.”
“Ibelievethatitwasundoubtedlyso.Iratherthink,InspectorMartin,thatwehavenowexhaustedallthatthisroomcanteachus.Ifyouwillkindlysteproundwithme,weshallseewhatfreshevidencethegardenhastooffer.”
Aflower-bedextendeduptothestudywindow,andweallbrokeintoanexclamationasweapproachedit.Theflowersweretrampleddown,andthesoftsoilwasimprintedalloverwithfootmarks.Large,masculinefeettheywere,withpeculiarlylong,sharptoes.Holmeshuntedaboutamongthegrassandleaveslikearetrieverafterawoundedbird.Then,withacryofsatisfaction,hebentforwardandpickedupalittlebrazencylinder.
“Ithoughtso,”saidhe,“therevolverhadanejector,andhereisthethirdcartridge.Ireallythink,InspectorMartin,thatourcaseisalmostcomplete.”
Thecountryinspector’sfacehadshownhisintenseamazementattherapidandmasterfulprogressofHolmes’sinvestigation.
