Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Reigate Puzzle
Youwillobservethatthehourmentioneduponitistheverytimeatwhichthepoorfellowmethisfate.Youseethathismurderermighthavetorntherestofthesheetfromhimorhemighthavetakenthisfragmentfromthemurderer.Itreadsalmostasthoughitwereanappointment."
Holmestookupthescrapofpaper,afacsimileofwhichisherereproduced.
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"Presumingthatitisanappointment,"continuedtheinspector,"itisofcourseaconceivabletheorythatthisWilliamKirwan,thoughhehadthereputationofbeinganhonestman,mayhavebeeninleaguewiththethief.Hemayhavemethimthere,mayevenhavehelpedhimtobreakinthedoor,andthentheymayhavefallenoutbetweenthemselves."
"Thiswritingisofextraordinaryinterest,"saidHolmes,whohadbeenexaminingitwithintenseconcentration."ThesearemuchdeeperwatersthanIhadthought."Hesankhisheaduponhishands,whiletheinspectorsmiledattheeffectwhichhiscasehadhaduponthefamousLondonspecialist.
"Yourlastremark,"saidHolmespresently,"astothepossibilityoftherebeinganunderstandingbetweentheburglarandtheservant,andthisbeinganoteofappointmentfromonetotheother,isaningeniousandnotentirelyimpossiblesupposition.Butthiswritingopensup—"Hesankhisheadintohishandsagainandremainedforsomeminutesinthedeepestthought.
