Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Abbey Grange
LadyBrackenstallthinksthattheywerethemselvessodisturbedbythedeathofSirEustacethattheydidnotransackthehouse,astheywouldotherwisehavedone.”
“Nodoubtthatistrue,andyettheydranksomewine,Iunderstand.”
“Tosteadytheirnerves.”
“Exactly.Thesethreeglassesuponthesideboardhavebeenuntouched,Isuppose?”
“Yes,andthebottlestandsastheyleftit.”
“Letuslookatit.Halloa,halloa!Whatisthis?”
Thethreeglassesweregroupedtogether,allofthemtingedwithwine,andoneofthemcontainingsomedregsofbeeswing.Thebottlestoodnearthem,two-thirdsfull,andbesideitlayalong,deeplystainedcork.Itsappearanceandthedustuponthebottleshowedthatitwasnocommonvintagewhichthemurderershadenjoyed.
AchangehadcomeoverHolmes’smanner.Hehadlosthislistlessexpression,andagainIsawanalertlightofinterestinhiskeen,deep-seteyes.Heraisedthecorkandexamineditminutely.
“Howdidtheydrawit?”heasked.
Hopkinspointedtoahalf-openeddrawer.Initlaysometablelinenandalargecorkscrew.
“DidLadyBrackenstallsaythatscrewwasused?”
“No,yourememberthatshewassenselessatthemomentwhenthebottlewasopened.”
“Quiteso.Asamatteroffact,thatscrewwasnotused.Thisbottlewasopenedbyapocketscrew,probablycontainedinaknife,andnotmorethananinchandahalflong.Ifyouwillexaminethetopofthecork,youwillobservethatthescrewwasdriveninthreetimesbeforethecorkwasextracted.Ithasneverbeentransfixed.
