Спогади Шерлока Холмса

           Thedifficultyistodetachtheframeworkoffact—ofabsoluteundeniablefact—fromtheembellishmentsoftheoristsandreporters.Then,havingestablishedourselvesuponthissoundbasis,itisourdutytoseewhatinferencesmaybedrawnandwhatarethespecialpointsuponwhichthewholemysteryturns.OnTuesdayeveningIreceivedtelegramsfrombothColonelRoss,theownerofthehorse,andfromInspectorGregory,whoislookingafterthecase,invitingmycooperation."

           "Tuesdayevening!"Iexclaimed."AndthisisThursdaymorning.Whydidn’tyougodownyesterday?"

           "BecauseImadeablunder,mydearWatson—whichis,Iamafraid,amorecommonoccurrencethananyonewouldthinkwhoonlyknewmethroughyourmemoirs.ThefactisthatIcouldnotbelieveitpossiblethatthemostremarkablehorseinEnglandcouldlongremainconcealed,especiallyinsosparselyinhabitedaplaceasthenorthofDartmoor.FromhourtohouryesterdayIexpectedtohearthathehadbeenfound,andthathisabductorwasthemurdererofJohnStraker.When,however,anothermorninghadcomeandIfoundthatbeyondthearrestofyoungFitzroySimpsonnothinghadbeendone,Ifeltthatitwastimeformetotakeaction.YetinsomewaysIfeelthatyesterdayhasnotbeenwasted."

           "Youhaveformedatheory,then?"

           "AtleastIhavegotagripoftheessentialfactsofthecase.