Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Empty House
WhatcouldIdo?Icouldnotshoothimatsight,orIshouldmyselfbeinthedock.Therewasnouseappealingtoamagistrate.Theycannotinterfereonthestrengthofwhatwouldappeartothemtobeawildsuspicion.SoIcoulddonothing.ButIwatchedthecriminalnews,knowingthatsoonerorlaterIshouldgethim.ThencamethedeathofthisRonaldAdair.Mychancehadcomeatlast.KnowingwhatIdid,wasitnotcertainthatColonelMoranhaddoneit?Hehadplayedcardswiththelad,hehadfollowedhimhomefromtheclub,hehadshothimthroughtheopenwindow.Therewasnotadoubtofit.Thebulletsaloneareenoughtoputhisheadinanoose.Icameoveratonce.Iwasseenbythesentinel,whowould,Iknew,directthecolonel’sattentiontomypresence.Hecouldnotfailtoconnectmysuddenreturnwithhiscrime,andtobeterriblyalarmed.Iwassurethathewouldmakeanattempttogetmeoutofthewayatonce,andwouldbringroundhismurderousweaponforthatpurpose.Ilefthimanexcellentmarkinthewindow,and,havingwarnedthepolicethattheymightbeneeded—bytheway,Watson,youspottedtheirpresenceinthatdoorwaywithunerringaccuracy—Itookupwhatseemedtometobeajudiciouspostforobservation,neverdreamingthathewouldchoosethesamespotforhisattack.Now,mydearWatson,doesanythingremainformetoexplain?”
“Yes,”saidI.“YouhavenotmadeitclearwhatwasColonelMoran’smotiveinmurderingtheHonourableRonaldAdair?”
“Ah!mydearWatson,therewecomeintothoserealmsofconjecture,wherethemostlogicalmindmaybeatfault
