Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Empty House
Nosoundwasheardfromtheroomuntileleven-twenty,thehourofthereturnofLadyMaynoothandherdaughter.Desiringtosaygood-night,sheattemptedtoenterherson’sroom.Thedoorwaslockedontheinside,andnoanswercouldbegottotheircriesandknocking.Helpwasobtained,andthedoorforced.Theunfortunateyoungmanwasfoundlyingnearthetable.Hisheadhadbeenhorriblymutilatedbyanexpandingrevolverbullet,butnoweaponofanysortwastobefoundintheroom.Onthetablelaytwobanknotesfortenpoundseachandseventeenpoundsteninsilverandgold,themoneyarrangedinlittlepilesofvaryingamount.Thereweresomefiguresalsouponasheetofpaper,withthenamesofsomeclubfriendsoppositetothem,fromwhichitwasconjecturedthatbeforehisdeathhewasendeavouringtomakeouthislossesorwinningsatcards.
Aminuteexaminationofthecircumstancesservedonlytomakethecasemorecomplex.Inthefirstplace,noreasoncouldbegivenwhytheyoungmanshouldhavefastenedthedoorupontheinside.Therewasthepossibilitythatthemurdererhaddonethis,andhadafterwardsescapedbythewindow.Thedropwasatleasttwentyfeet,however,andabedofcrocusesinfullbloomlaybeneath.Neithertheflowersnortheearthshowedanysignofhavingbeendisturbed,norwerethereanymarksuponthenarrowstripofgrasswhichseparatedthehousefromtheroad.Apparently,therefore,itwastheyoungmanhimselfwhohadfastenedthedoor.Buthowdidhecomebyhisdeath?Noonecouldhaveclimbeduptothewindowwithoutleavingtraces.
