Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Reigate Puzzle
ItseemsthatWilliamhadsecretlyfollowedhistwomastersonthenightwhentheymadetheirraiduponMr.Acton’sand,havingthusgotthemintohispower,proceeded,underthreatsofexposure,tolevyblackmailuponthem.Mr.Alec,however,wasadangerousmantoplaygamesofthatsortwith.Itwasastrokeofpositivegeniusonhisparttoseeintheburglaryscarewhichwasconvulsingthecountrysideanopportunityofplausiblygettingridofthemanwhomhefeared.Williamwasdecoyedupandshot,andhadtheyonlygotthewholeofthenoteandpaidalittlemoreattentiontodetailintheiraccessories,itisverypossiblethatsuspicionmightneverhavebeenaroused."
"Andthenote?"Iasked.
SherlockHolmesplacedthesubjoinedpaperbeforeus.
IFYOUWILLONLYCOMEAROUND
TOTHEEASTGATEYOUWILL
WILLVERYMUCHSURPRISEYOUAND
BEOFTHEGREATESTSERVICETOYOUANDALSO
TOANNIEMORRISON.BUTSAYNOTHINGTOANYONE
UPONTHEMATTER.
"ItisverymuchthesortofthingthatIexpected,"saidhe."Ofcourse,wedonotyetknowwhattherelationsmayhavebeenbetweenAlecCunningham,WilliamKirwan,andAnnieMorrison.Theresultshowsthatthetrapwasskilfullybaited.Iamsurethatyoucannotfailtobedelightedwiththetracesofheredityshowninthep’sandinthetailsoftheg‘s.Theabsenceofthei-dotsintheoldman’swritingisalsomostcharacteristic
