Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
HereIcouldonlymakesensebyputtingTandGforthemissingletters,andsupposingthatthenamewasthatofsomehouseorinnatwhichthewriterwasstaying.”
InspectorMartinandIhadlistenedwiththeutmostinteresttothefullandclearaccountofhowmyfriendhadproducedresultswhichhadledtosocompleteacommandoverourdifficulties.
“Whatdidyoudothen,sir?”askedtheinspector.
“IhadeveryreasontosupposethatthisAbeSlaneywasanAmerican,sinceAbeisanAmericancontraction,andsincealetterfromAmericahadbeenthestarting-pointofallthetrouble.Ihadalsoeverycausetothinkthattherewassomecriminalsecretinthematter.Thelady’sallusionstoherpast,andherrefusaltotakeherhusbandintoherconfidence,bothpointedinthatdirection.Ithereforecabledtomyfriend,WilsonHargreave,oftheNewYorkPoliceBureau,whohasmorethanoncemadeuseofmyknowledgeofLondoncrime.IaskedhimwhetherthenameofAbeSlaneywasknowntohim.Hereishisreply:‘ThemostdangerouscrookinChicago.’OntheveryeveninguponwhichIhadhisanswer,HiltonCubittsentmethelastmessagefromSlaney.Workingwithknownletters,ittookthisform:
ELSIE.RE.ARETOMEETTHYGO.
TheadditionofaPandaDcompletedamessagewhichshowedmethattherascalwasproceedingfrompersuasiontothreats,andmyknowledgeofthecrooksofChicagopreparedmetofindthathemightveryrapidlyputhiswordsintoaction.IatoncecametoNorfolkwithmyfriendandcolleague,Dr.Watson,but,unhappily,onlyintimetofindthattheworsthadalreadyoccurred.
