Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Musgrave Ritual
"‘Thereusedtobeaveryoldoneoveryonder,butitwasstruckbylightningtenyearsago,andwecutdownthestump.’
"‘Youcanseewhereitusedtobe?’
"‘Oh,yes.’
"‘Therearenootherelms?’
"‘Nooldones,butplentyofbeeches.’
"‘Ishouldliketoseewhereitgrew.’
"Wehaddrivenupinadog-cart,andmyclientledmeawayatonce,withoutourenteringthehouse,tothescaronthelawnwheretheelmhadstood.Itwasnearlymidwaybetweentheoakandthehouse.Myinvestigationseemedtobeprogressing.
"‘Isupposeitisimpossibletofindouthowhightheelmwas?"Iasked.
"‘Icangiveyouitatonce.Itwassixty-fourfeet.’
"‘Howdoyoucometoknowit?"Iaskedinsurprise.
"‘Whenmyoldtutorusedtogivemeanexerciseintrigonometry,italwaystooktheshapeofmeasuringheights.WhenIwasaladIworkedouteverytreeandbuildingintheestate.’
"Thiswasanunexpectedpieceofluck.MydatawerecomingmorequicklythanIcouldhavereasonablyhoped.
"‘Tellme,"Iasked,‘didyourbutlereveraskyousuchaquestion?’
"ReginaldMusgravelookedatmeinastonishment.‘Nowthatyoucallittomymind,"heanswered,‘Bruntondidaskmeabouttheheightofthetreesomemonthsagoinconnectionwithsomelittleargumentwiththegroom.
