Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
SherlockHolmes,anditisnotformetosayawordagainstthem,butIthinkIhavedoneabetterday’sworkthanyou.Ihaveidentifiedthedeadman.”
“Youdon’tsayso?”
“Andfoundacauseforthecrime.”
“Splendid!”
“WehaveaninspectorwhomakesaspecialtyofSaffronHillandtheItalianQuarter.Well,thisdeadmanhadsomeCatholicemblemroundhisneck,andthat,alongwithhiscolour,mademethinkhewasfromtheSouth.InspectorHillknewhimthemomenthecaughtsightofhim.HisnameisPietroVenucci,fromNaples,andheisoneofthegreatestcut-throatsinLondon.HeisconnectedwiththeMafia,which,asyouknow,isasecretpoliticalsociety,enforcingitsdecreesbymurder.Now,youseehowtheaffairbeginstoclearup.TheotherfellowisprobablyanItalianalso,andamemberoftheMafia.Hehasbrokentherulesinsomefashion.Pietroissetuponhistrack.Probablythephotographwefoundinhispocketisthemanhimself,sothathemaynotknifethewrongperson.Hedogsthefellow,heseeshimenterahouse,hewaitsoutsideforhim,andinthescufflehereceiveshisowndeath-wound.Howisthat,Mr.SherlockHolmes?”
Holmesclappedhishandsapprovingly.
“Excellent,Lestrade,excellent!”hecried.“ButIdidn’tquitefollowyourexplanationofthedestructionofthebusts.”
“Thebusts!Younevercangetthosebustsoutofyourhead.Afterall,thatisnothing;pettylarceny,sixmonthsatthemost.Itisthemurderthatwearereallyinvestigating,andItellyouthatIamgatheringallthethreadsintomyhands.
