Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           Andthis?Ha,ha!Whathavewehere? Tiptoes!tiptoes! Square,too,quiteunusualboots! Theycome,theygo,theycomeagain—ofcoursethatwasforthecloak. Nowwheredidtheycomefrom?" Heranupanddown,sometimeslosing,sometimesfindingthetrackuntilwewerewellwithintheedgeofthewoodandundertheshadowofagreatbeech,thelargesttreeintheneighbourhood. Holmestracedhiswaytothefarthersideofthisandlaydownoncemoreuponhisfacewithalittlecryofsatisfaction. Foralongtimeheremainedthere,turningovertheleavesanddriedsticks,gatheringupwhatseemedtometobedustintoanenvelopeandexaminingwithhislensnotonlythegroundbuteventhebarkofthetreeasfarashecouldreach. Ajaggedstonewaslyingamongthemoss,andthisalsohecarefullyexaminedandretained. Thenhefollowedapathwaythroughthewooduntilhecametothehighroad,wherealltraceswerelost. 

           "Ithasbeenacaseofconsiderableinterest,"heremarked,returningtohisnaturalmanner. "Ifancythatthisgrayhouseontherightmustbethelodge. IthinkthatIwillgoinandhaveawordwithMoran,andperhapswritealittlenote. Havingdonethat,wemaydrivebacktoourluncheon. Youmaywalktothecab,andIshallbewithyoupresently." 

           ItwasabouttenminutesbeforeweregainedourcabanddrovebackintoRoss,Holmesstillcarryingwithhimthestonewhichhehadpickedupinthewood. 

           "Thismayinterestyou,Lestrade,"heremarked,holdingitout. "Themurderwasdonewithit." 

           "Iseenomarks." 

           "Therearenone."