Етюд у багряних тонах
Light in the Darkness.
Therewasaglassofwateronthetable,andonthewindow-sillasmallchipointmentboxcontainingacoupleofpills.”
SherlockHolmessprangfromhischairwithanexclamationofdelight.
“Thelastlink,”hecried,exultantly. “Mycaseiscomplete.”
Thetwodetectivesstaredathiminamazement.
“Ihavenowinmyhands,”mycompanionsaid,confidently,“allthethreadswhichhaveformedsuchatangle. Thereare,ofcourse,detailstobefilledin,butIamascertainofallthemainfacts,fromthetimethatDrebberpartedfromStangersonatthestation,uptothediscoveryofthebodyofthelatter,asifIhadseenthemwithmyowneyes. Iwillgiveyouaproofofmyknowledge. Couldyoulayyourhanduponthosepills?”
“Ihavethem,”saidLestrade,producingasmallwhitebox; “Itookthemandthepurseandthetelegram,intendingtohavethemputinaplaceofsafetyatthePoliceStation. Itwasthemerestchancemytakingthesepills,forIamboundtosaythatIdonotattachanyimportancetothem.”
“Givethemhere,”saidHolmes. “Now,Doctor,”turningtome,“arethoseordinarypills?”
Theycertainlywerenot. Theywereofapearlygreycolour,small,round,andalmosttransparentagainstthelight. “Fromtheirlightnessandtransparency,Ishouldimaginethattheyaresolubleinwater,”Iremarked.
“Preciselyso,”answeredHolmes. “Nowwouldyoumindgoingdownandfetchingthatpoorlittledevilofaterrierwhichhasbeenbadsolong,andwhichthelandladywantedyoutoputoutofitspainyesterday.”
