Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           Theinspectorandtwomenaccompaniedherback,andinspiteofthecontinuedresistanceoftheproprietor,theymadetheirwaytotheroominwhichMr.St.Clairhadlastbeenseen. Therewasnosignofhimthere. Infact,inthewholeofthatfloortherewasnoonetobefoundsaveacrippledwretchofhideousaspect,who,itseems,madehishomethere. Bothheandthelascarstoutlysworethatnooneelsehadbeeninthefrontroomduringtheafternoon. Sodeterminedwastheirdenialthattheinspectorwasstaggered,andhadalmostcometobelievethatMrs.St.Clairhadbeendeludedwhen,withacry,shesprangatasmalldealboxwhichlayuponthetableandtorethelidfromit. Outtherefellacascadeofchildren’sbricks. Itwasthetoywhichhehadpromisedtobringhome. 

           "Thisdiscovery,andtheevidentconfusionwhichthecrippleshowed,madetheinspectorrealizethatthematterwasserious. Theroomswerecarefullyexamined,andresultsallpointedtoanabominablecrime. Thefrontroomwasplainlyfurnishedasasitting-roomandledintoasmallbedroom,whichlookedoutuponthebackofoneofthewharves. Betweenthewharfandthebedroomwindowisanarrowstrip,whichisdryatlowtidebutiscoveredathightidewithatleastfourandahalffeetofwater. Thebedroomwindowwasabroadoneandopenedfrombelow. Onexaminationtracesofbloodweretobeseenuponthewindowsill,andseveralscattereddropswerevisibleuponthewoodenfloorofthebedroom. ThrustawaybehindacurtaininthefrontroomwerealltheclothesofMr.NevilleSt.Clair,withtheexceptionofhiscoat. Hisboots,hissocks,hishat,andhiswatch—allwerethere. Therewerenosignsofviolenceuponanyofthesegarments,andtherewerenoothertracesofMr.NevilleSt.Clair. Outofthewindowhemustapparentlyhavegonefornootherexitcouldbediscovered,andtheominousbloodstainsuponthesillgavelittlepromisethathecouldsavehimselfbyswimming,forthetidewasatitsveryhighestatthemomentofthetragedy.