Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Reigate Puzzle
Evidently,therefore,AlecCunninghamhadliedwhenhesaidthatthetwomenwerestrugglingwhentheshotwasfired.Again,bothfatherandsonagreedastotheplacewherethemanescapedintotheroad.Atthatpoint,however,asithappens,thereisabroadishditch,moistatthebottom.Astherewerenoindicationsofboot-marksaboutthisditch,IwasabsolutelysurenotonlythattheCunninghamshadagainliedbutthattherehadneverbeenanyunknownmanuponthesceneatall.
"AndnowIhavetoconsiderthemotiveofthissingularcrime.Togetatthis,IendeavouredfirstofalltosolvethereasonoftheoriginalburglaryatMr.Acton’s.Iunderstood,fromsomethingwhichthecoloneltoldus,thatalawsuithadbeengoingonbetweenyou,Mr.Acton,andtheCunninghams.Ofcourse,itinstantlyoccurredtomethattheyhadbrokenintoyourlibrarywiththeintentionofgettingatsomedocumentwhichmightbeofimportanceinthecase."
"Preciselyso,"saidMr.Acton."Therecanbenopossibledoubtastotheirintentions.Ihavetheclearestclaimuponhalfoftheirpresentestate,andiftheycouldhavefoundasinglepaper—which,fortunately,wasinthestrong-boxofmysolicitors—theywouldundoubtedlyhavecrippledourcase."
"Thereyouare,"saidHolmes,smiling."Itwasadangerous,recklessattemptinwhichIseemtotracetheinfluenceofyoungAlec.
