Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Resident Patient
Thesewallsarethick,anditisconceivablethathisshriek,ifhehadtimetoutterone,wasunheard.
"Havingsecuredhim,itisevidenttomethataconsultationofsomesortwasheld.Probablyitwassomethinginthenatureofajudicialproceeding.Itmusthavelastedforsometime,foritwasthenthatthesecigarsweresmoked.Theoldermansatinthatwickerchair;itwashewhousedthecigar-holder.Theyoungermansatoveryonder;heknockedhisashoffagainstthechestofdrawers.Thethirdfollowpacedupanddown.Blessington,Ithink,satuprightinthebed,butofthatIcannotbeabsolutelycertain.
"Well,itendedbytheirtakingBlessingtonandhanginghim.Thematterwassoprearrangedthatitismybeliefthattheybroughtwiththemsomesortofblockorpulleywhichmightserveasagallows.Thatscrew-driverandthosescrewswere,asIconceive,forfixingitup.Seeingthehook,however,theynaturallysavedthemselvesthetrouble.Havingfinishedtheirworktheymadeoff,andthedoorwasbarredbehindthembytheirconfederate."
Wehadalllistenedwiththedeepestinteresttothissketchofthenight’sdoings,whichHolmeshaddeducedfromsignssosubtleandminutethat,evenwhenhehadpointedthemouttous,wecouldscarcelyfollowhiminhisreasonings.Theinspectorhurriedawayontheinstanttomakeinquiriesaboutthepage,whileHolmesandIreturnedtoBakerStreetforbreakfast.
"I’llbebackbythree,"saidhewhenwehadfinishedourmeal.
