Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez
SherlockHolmes,”saidmycompanion,withasomewhatbittersmile.“Well,letushearaboutit.Whatsortofajobdidyoumakeofit?”
“Imustaskyoufirst,Mr.Holmes,toglanceatthisroughplan,whichwillgiveyouageneralideaofthepositionoftheprofessor’sstudyandthevariouspointsofthecase.Itwillhelpyouinfollowingmyinvestigation.”
Heunfoldedtheroughchart,whichIherereproduce,andhelaiditacrossHolmes’sknee.Iroseand,standingbehindHolmes,studieditoverhisshoulder.
“Itisveryrough,ofcourse,anditonlydealswiththepointswhichseemtometobeessential.Alltherestyouwillseelaterforyourself.Now,firstofall,presumingthattheassassinenteredthehouse,howdidheorshecomein?Undoubtedlybythegardenpathandthebackdoor,fromwhichthereisdirectaccesstothestudy.Anyotherwaywouldhavebeenexceedinglycomplicated.Theescapemusthavealsobeenmadealongthatline,forofthetwootherexitsfromtheroomonewasblockedbySusanassherandownstairsandtheotherleadsstraighttotheprofessor’sbedroom.Ithereforedirectedmyattentionatoncetothegardenpath,whichwassaturatedwithrecentrain,andwouldcertainlyshowanyfootmarks.
“MyexaminationshowedmethatIwasdealingwithacautiousandexpertcriminal.Nofootmarksweretobefoundonthepath.Therecouldbenoquestion,however,thatsomeonehadpassedalongthegrassborderwhichlinesthepath,andthathehaddonesoinordertoavoidleavingatrack.
