Спогади Шерлока Холмса
Silver Blaze
IwasmarvellinginmyownmindhowIcouldpossiblyhaveoverlookedsoobviousaclue."
"Iconfess,"saidthecolonel,"thatevennowIcannotseehowithelpsus."
"Itwasthefirstlinkinmychainofreasoning.Powderedopiumisbynomeanstasteless.Theflavourisnotdisagreeable,butitisperceptible.Wereitmixedwithanyordinarydishtheeaterwouldundoubtedlydetectitandwouldprobablyeatnomore.Acurrywasexactlythemediumwhichwoulddisguisethistaste.Bynopossiblesuppositioncouldthisstranger,FitzroySimpson,havecausedcurrytobeservedinthetrainer’sfamilythatnight,anditissurelytoomonstrousacoincidencetosupposethathehappenedtocomealongwithpowderedopiumupontheverynightwhenadishhappenedtobeservedwhichwoulddisguisetheflavour.Thatisunthinkable.ThereforeSimpsonbecomeseliminatedfromthecase,andourattentioncentresuponStrakerandhiswife,theonlytwopeoplewhocouldhavechosencurriedmuttonforsupperthatnight.Theopiumwasaddedafterthedishwassetasideforthestable-boy,fortheothershadthesameforsupperwithnoilleffects.Whichofthem,then,hadaccesstothatdishwithoutthemaidseeingthem?
"BeforedecidingthatquestionIhadgraspedthesignificanceofthesilenceofthedog,foronetrueinferenceinvariablysuggestsothers.
