Спогади Шерлока Холмса
Silver Blaze
Ishallenumeratethemtoyou,fornothingclearsupacasesomuchasstatingittoanotherperson,andIcanhardlyexpectyourcooperationifIdonotshowyouthepositionfromwhichwestart."
Ilaybackagainstthecushions,puffingatmycigar,whileHolmes,leaningforward,withhislong,thinforefingercheckingoffthepointsuponthepalmofhislefthand,gavemeasketchoftheeventswhichhadledtoourjourney.
"SilverBlaze,"saidhe,"isfromtheSomomystockandholdsasbrilliantarecordashisfamousancestor.HeisnowinhisfifthyearandhasbroughtinturneachoftheprizesoftheturftoColonelRoss,hisfortunateowner.UptothetimeofthecatastrophehewasthefirstfavouritefortheWessexCup,thebettingbeingthreetooneonhim.Hehasalways,however,beenaprimefavouritewiththeracingpublicandhasneveryetdisappointedthem,sothatevenatthoseoddsenormoussumsofmoneyhavebeenlaiduponhim.Itisobvious,therefore,thatthereweremanypeoplewhohadthestrongestinterestinpreventingSilverBlazefrombeingthereatthefalloftheflagnextTuesday.
"Thefactwas,ofcourse,appreciatedatKing’sPyland,wherethecolonel’straining-stableissituated.Everyprecautionwastakentoguardthefavourite.Thetrainer,JohnStraker,isaretiredjockeywhorodeinColonelRoss’scoloursbeforehebecametooheavyfortheweighing-chair.
