Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Abbey Grange
“Ifancythateveryoneofhiscaseshasfounditswayintoyourcollection,andImustadmit,Watson,thatyouhavesomepowerofselection,whichatonesformuchwhichIdeploreinyournarratives.Yourfatalhabitoflookingateverythingfromthepointofviewofastoryinsteadofasascientificexercisehasruinedwhatmighthavebeenaninstructiveandevenclassicalseriesofdemonstrations.Yousluroverworkoftheutmostfinesseanddelicacy,inordertodwelluponsensationaldetailswhichmayexcite,butcannotpossiblyinstruct,thereader.”
“Whydoyounotwritethemyourself?”Isaid,withsomebitterness.
“Iwill,mydearWatson,Iwill.AtpresentIam,asyouknow,fairlybusy,butIproposetodevotemydecliningyearstothecompositionofatextbook,whichshallfocusthewholeartofdetectionintoonevolume.Ourpresentresearchappearstobeacaseofmurder.”
“YouthinkthisSirEustaceisdead,then?”
“Ishouldsayso.Hopkins’swritingshowsconsiderableagitation,andheisnotanemotionalman.Yes,Igathertherehasbeenviolence,andthatthebodyisleftforourinspection.Ameresuicidewouldnothavecausedhimtosendforme.Astothereleaseofthelady,itwouldappearthatshehasbeenlockedinherroomduringthetragedy.Wearemovinginhighlife,Watson,cracklingpaper,‘E.B.’monogram,coat-of-arms,picturesqueaddress.IthinkthatfriendHopkinswillliveuptohisreputation,andthatweshallhaveaninterestingmorning.Thecrimewascommittedbeforetwelvelastnight.
