Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of Black Peter
Itisincrediblethatthisblood-bespatteredroomcontainednotracewhichcouldhaveaidedus.Iunderstand,however,fromtheinquestthatthereweresomeobjectswhichyoufailedtooverlook?”
Theyounginspectorwincedatmycompanion’sironicalcomments.
“IwasafoolnottocallyouinatthetimeMr.Holmes.However,that’spastprayingfornow.Yes,therewereseveralobjectsintheroomwhichcalledforspecialattention.Onewastheharpoonwithwhichthedeedwascommitted.Ithadbeensnatcheddownfromarackonthewall.Twoothersremainedthere,andtherewasavacantplaceforthethird.Onthestockwasengraved‘SS.SeaUnicorn,Dundee.’Thisseemedtoestablishthatthecrimehadbeendoneinamomentoffury,andthatthemurdererhadseizedthefirstweaponwhichcameinhisway.Thefactthatthecrimewascommittedattwointhemorning,andyetPeterCareywasfullydressed,suggestedthathehadanappointmentwiththemurderer,whichisborneoutbythefactthatabottleofrumandtwodirtyglassesstooduponthetable.”
“Yes,”saidHolmes;“Ithinkthatbothinferencesarepermissible.Wasthereanyotherspiritbutrumintheroom?”
“Yes,therewasatantaluscontainingbrandyandwhiskyonthesea-chest.Itisofnoimportancetous,however,sincethedecanterswerefull,andithadthereforenotbeenused.”
“Forallthat,itspresencehassomesignificance,”saidHolmes.“However,letushearsomemoreabouttheobjectswhichdoseemtoyoutobearuponthecase.”
“Therewasthistobacco-pouchuponthetable.
