Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Musgrave Ritual
"Iwasalreadyfirmlyconvinced,Watson,thattherewerenotthreeseparatemysterieshere,butoneonly,andthatifIcouldreadtheMusgraveRitualarightIshouldholdinmyhandthecluewhichwouldleadmetothetruthconcerningboththebutlerBruntonandthemaidHowells.TothatthenIturnedallmyenergies.Whyshouldthisservantbesoanxioustomasterthisoldformula?Evidentlybecausehesawsomethinginitwhichhadescapedallthosegenerationsofcountrysquires,andfromwhichheexpectedsomepersonaladvantage.Whatwasitthen,andhowhaditaffectedhisfate?
"Itwasperfectlyobvioustome,onreadingtheRitual,thatthemeasurementsmustrefertosomespottowhichtherestofthedocumentalluded,andthatifwecouldfindthatspotweshouldbeinafairwaytowardsfindingwhatthesecretwaswhichtheoldMusgraveshadthoughtitnecessarytoembalminsocuriousafashion.Thereweretwoguidesgivenustostartwith,anoakandanelm.Astotheoaktherecouldbenoquestionatall.Rightinfrontofthehouse,upontheleft-handsideofthedrive,therestoodapatriarchamongoaks,oneofthemostmagnificenttreesthatIhaveeverseen.
"‘ThatwastherewhenyourRitualwasdrawnup,"saidIaswedrovepastit.
"‘ItwasthereattheNormanConquestinallprobability,"heanswered.‘Ithasagirthoftwenty-threefeet.’
"Herewasoneofmyfixedpointssecured.
"‘Haveyouanyoldelms?"Iasked.
