Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Second Stain
TheknifewithwhichthecrimehadbeencommittedwasacurvedIndiandagger,pluckeddownfromatrophyofOrientalarmswhichadornedoneofthewalls.Robberydoesnotappeartohavebeenthemotiveofthecrime,fortherehadbeennoattempttoremovethevaluablecontentsoftheroom.Mr.EduardoLucaswassowell-knownandpopularthathisviolentandmysteriousfatewillarousepainfulinterestandintensesympathyinawidespreadcircleoffriends.
“Well,Watson,whatdoyoumakeofthis?”askedHolmes,afteralongpause.
“Itisanamazingcoincidence.”
“Acoincidence!Hereisoneofthethreemenwhomwehadnamedaspossibleactorsinthisdrama,andhemeetsaviolentdeathduringtheveryhourswhenweknowthatthatdramawasbeingenacted.Theoddsareenormousagainstitsbeingcoincidence.Nofigurescouldexpressthem.No,mydearWatson,thetwoeventsareconnected—mustbeconnected.Itisforustofindtheconnection.”
“Butnowtheofficialpolicemustknowall.”
“Notatall.TheyknowalltheyseeatGodolphinStreet.Theyknow—andshallknow—nothingofWhitehallTerrace.Onlyweknowofbothevents,andcantracetherelationbetweenthem.Thereisoneobviouspointwhichwould,inanycase,haveturnedmysuspicionsagainstLucas.GodolphinStreet,Westminster,isonlyafewminutes’walkfromWhitehallTerrace.TheothersecretagentswhomIhavenamedliveintheextremeWestEnd.
