Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Three Students
Soames,andyouhavegotyourman.WhenIaddthathepossessesalargeandverybluntknife,youhaveanadditionalaid.”
Mr.Soameswassomewhatoverwhelmedbythisfloodofinformation.“Icanfollowtheotherpoints,”saidhe,“butreally,inthismatterofthelength——”
HolmesheldoutasmallchipwiththelettersNNandaspaceofclearwoodafterthem.
“Yousee?”
“No,Ifearthatevennow——”
“Watson,Ihavealwaysdoneyouaninjustice.Thereareothers.WhatcouldthisNNbe?Itisattheendofaword.YouareawarethatJohannFaberisthemostcommonmaker’sname.IsitnotclearthatthereisjustasmuchofthepencilleftasusuallyfollowstheJohann?”Heheldthesmalltablesidewaystotheelectriclight.“Iwashopingthatifthepaperonwhichhewrotewasthin,sometraceofitmightcomethroughuponthispolishedsurface.No,Iseenothing.Idon’tthinkthereisanythingmoretobelearnedhere.Nowforthecentraltable.Thissmallpelletis,Ipresume,theblack,doughymassyouspokeof.Roughlypyramidalinshapeandhollowedout,Iperceive.Asyousay,thereappeartobegrainsofsawdustinit.Dearme,thisisveryinteresting.Andthecut—apositivetear,Isee.Itbeganwithathinscratchandendedinajaggedhole.Iammuchindebtedtoyoufordirectingmyattentiontothiscase,Mr.Soames.Wheredoesthatdoorleadto?”
“Tomybedroom.”
“Haveyoubeeninitsinceyouradventure?”
“No,Icamestraightawayforyou.”
“Ishouldliketohaveaglanceround.
