Спогади Шерлока Холмса
Silver Blaze
Hehasservedthecolonelforfiveyearsasjockeyandforsevenastrainer,andhasalwaysshownhimselftobeazealousandhonestservant.Underhimwerethreelads,fortheestablishmentwasasmallone,containingonlyfourhorsesinall.Oneoftheseladssatupeachnightinthestable,whiletheotherssleptintheloft.Allthreeboreexcellentcharacters.JohnStraker,whoisamarriedmanlivedinasmallvillaabouttwohundredyardsfromthestables.Hehasnochildren,keepsonemaidservant,andiscomfortablyoff.Thecountryroundisverylonely,butabouthalfamiletothenorththereisasmallclusterofvillaswhichhavebeenbuiltbyaTavistockcontractorfortheuseofinvalidsandotherswhomaywishtoenjoythepureDartmoorair.Tavistockitselfliestwomilestothewest,whileacrossthemoor,alsoabouttwomilesdistant,isthelargertrainingestablishmentofMapleton,whichbelongstoLordBackwaterandismanagedbySilasBrown.Ineveryotherdirectionthemoorisacompletewilderness,inhabitedonlybyafewroaminggypsies.SuchwasthegeneralsituationlastMondaynightwhenthecatastropheoccurred.
"Onthateveningthehorseshadbeenexercisedandwateredasusual,andthestableswerelockedupatnineo’clock.Twooftheladswalkeduptothetrainer’shouse,wheretheyhadsupperinthekitchen,whilethethird,NedHunter,remainedonguard.Atafewminutesafterninethemaid,EdithBaxter,carrieddowntothestableshissupper,whichconsistedofadishofcurriedmutton.
