Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Crooked Man
Ithadfivewell-markedfootpads,anindicationoflongnails,andthewholeprintmightbenearlyaslargeasadessert-spoon.
"It’sadog,"saidI.
"Didyoueverhearofadogrunningupacurtain?Ifounddistincttracesthatthiscreaturehaddoneso."
"Amonkey,then?"
"Butitisnottheprintofamonkey."
"Whatcanitbe,then?"
"Neitherdognorcatnormonkeynoranycreaturethatwearefamiliarwith.Ihavetriedtoreconstructitfromthemeasurements.Herearefourprintswherethebeasthasbeenstandingmotionless.Youseethatitisnolessthanfifteeninchesfromfore-foottohind.Addtothatthelengthofneckandhead,andyougetacreaturenotmuchlessthantwofeetlong—probablymoreifthereisanytail.Butnowobservethisothermeasurement.Theanimalhasbeenmoving,andwehavethelengthofitsstride.Ineachcaseitisonlyaboutthreeinches.Youhaveanindication,yousee,ofalongbodywithveryshortlegsattachedtoit.Ithasnotbeenconsiderateenoughtoleaveanyofitshairbehindit.ButitsgeneralshapemustbewhatIhaveindicated,anditcanrunupacurtain,anditiscarnivorous."
"Howdoyoudeducethat?"
"Becauseitranupthecurtain.Acanary’scagewashanginginthewindow,anditsaimseemstohavebeentogetatthebird.
