Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Boscombe Valley Mystery
Abovethewoodswhichlinedituponthefarthersidewecouldseethered,juttingpinnacleswhichmarkedthesiteoftherichlandowner’sdwelling. OntheHatherleysideofthepoolthewoodsgrewverythick,andtherewasanarrowbeltofsoddengrasstwentypacesacrossbetweentheedgeofthetreeslandthereedswhichlinedthelake. Lestradeshowedustheexactspotatwhichthebodyhadbeenfound,and,indeed,somoistwastheground,thatIcouldplainlyseethetraceswhichhadbeenleftbythefallofthestrickenman. ToHolmes,asIcouldseebyhiseagerfaceandpeeringeyes,verymanyotherthingsweretobereaduponthetrampledgrass. Heranround,likeadogwhoispickingupascent,andthenturneduponmycompanion.
"Whatdidyougointothepoolfor?"heasked.
"Ifishedaboutwitharake. Ithoughttheremightbesomeweaponorothertrace. Buthowonearth—"
"Oh,tut,tut!Ihavenotime! Thatleftfootofyourswithitsinwardtwistisallovertheplace. Amolecouldtraceit,andthereitvanishesamongthereeds. Oh,howsimpleitwouldallhavebeenhadIbeenherebeforetheycamelikeaherdofbuffaloandwallowedalloverit. Hereiswherethepartywiththelodge-keepercame,andtheyhavecoveredalltracksforsixoreightfeetroundthebody. Butherearethreeseparatetracksofthesamefeet." Hedrewoutalensandlaydownuponhiswaterprooftohaveabetterview,talkingallthetimerathertohimselfthantous. "TheseareyoungMcCarthy’sfeet. Twicehewaswalking,andonceheranswiftly,sothatthesolesaredeeplymarkedandtheheelshardlyvisible. Thatbearsouthisstory. Heranwhenhesawhisfatherontheground. Thenherearethefather’sfeetashepacedupanddown. Whatisthis,then? Itisthebutt-endofthegunasthesonstoodlistening.
