Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Reigate Puzzle
Inthiscase,lookingatthebold,stronghandoftheone,andtheratherbroken-backedappearanceoftheother,whichstillretainsitslegibilityalthoughthet’shavebeguntolosetheircrossing,wecansaythattheonewasayoungmanandtheotherwasadvancedinyearswithoutbeingpositivelydecrepit."
"Excellent!"criedMr.Actonagain.
"Thereisafurtherpoint,however,whichissubtlerandofgreaterinterest.Thereissomethingincommonbetweenthesehands.Theybelongtomenwhoareblood-relatives.ItmaybemostobvioustoyouintheGreeke’s,buttometherearemanysmallpointswhichindicatethesamething.Ihavenodoubtatallthatafamilymannerismcanbetracedinthesetwospecimensofwriting.Iamonly,ofcourse,givingyoutheleadingresultsnowofmyexaminationofthepaper.Thereweretwenty-threeotherdeductionswhichwouldbeofmoreinteresttoexpertsthantoyou.TheyalltendtodeepentheimpressionuponmymindthattheCunninghams,fatherandson,hadwrittenthisletter.
"Havinggotsofar,mynextstepwas,ofcourse,toexamineintothedetailsofthecrime,andtoseehowfartheywouldhelpus.Iwentuptothehousewiththeinspectorandsawallthatwastobeseen.Thewounduponthedeadmanwas,asIwasabletodeterminewithabsoluteconfidence,firedfromarevolveratthedistanceofsomethingoverfouryards.Therewasnopowderblackeningontheclothes.
