Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of Black Peter
Holmes,thatthereisapossibilitythattheseinitialsarethoseofthesecondpersonwhowaspresent—inotherwords,ofthemurderer.Iwouldalsourgethattheintroductionintothecaseofadocumentrelatingtolargemassesofvaluablesecuritiesgivesusforthefirsttimesomeindicationofamotiveforthecrime.”
SherlockHolmes’sfaceshowedthathewasthoroughlytakenabackbythisnewdevelopment.
“Imustadmitbothyourpoints,”saidhe.“Iconfessthatthisnotebook,whichdidnotappearattheinquest,modifiesanyviewswhichImayhaveformed.IhadcometoatheoryofthecrimeinwhichIcanfindnoplaceforthis.Haveyouendeavouredtotraceanyofthesecuritiesherementioned?”
“Inquiriesarenowbeingmadeattheoffices,butIfearthatthecompleteregisterofthestockholdersoftheseSouthAmericanconcernsisinSouthAmerica,andthatsomeweeksmustelapsebeforewecantracetheshares.”
Holmeshadbeenexaminingthecoverofthenotebookwithhismagnifyinglens.
“Surelythereissomediscolourationhere,”saidhe.
“Yes,sir,itisablood-stain.ItoldyouthatIpickedthebookoffthefloor.”
“Wastheblood-stainaboveorbelow?”
“Onthesidenexttheboards.”
“Whichproves,ofcourse,thatthebookwasdroppedafterthecrimewascommitted.”
“Exactly,Mr.Holmes.Iappreciatedthatpoint,andIconjecturedthatitwasdroppedbythemurdererinhishurriedflight.Itlaynearthedoor.”
“Isupposethatnoneofthesesecuritieshavebeenfoundamongthepropertyofthedeadman?”
“No,sir.
