Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Empty House
Supposeamanhadfiredthroughthewindow,hewouldindeedbearemarkableshotwhocouldwitharevolverinflictsodeadlyawound.Again,ParkLaneisafrequentedthoroughfare;thereisacabstandwithinahundredyardsofthehouse.Noonehadheardashot.Andyettherewasthedeadmanandtheretherevolverbullet,whichhadmushroomedout,assoft-nosedbulletswill,andsoinflictedawoundwhichmusthavecausedinstantaneousdeath.SuchwerethecircumstancesoftheParkLaneMystery,whichwerefurthercomplicatedbyentireabsenceofmotive,since,asIhavesaid,youngAdairwasnotknowntohaveanyenemy,andnoattempthadbeenmadetoremovethemoneyorvaluablesintheroom.
AlldayIturnedthesefactsoverinmymind,endeavouringtohituponsometheorywhichcouldreconcilethemall,andtofindthatlineofleastresistancewhichmypoorfriendhaddeclaredtobethestarting-pointofeveryinvestigation.IconfessthatImadelittleprogress.IntheeveningIstrolledacrossthePark,andfoundmyselfaboutsixo’clockattheOxfordStreetendofParkLane.Agroupofloafersuponthepavements,allstaringupataparticularwindow,directedmetothehousewhichIhadcometosee.Atall,thinmanwithcolouredglasses,whomIstronglysuspectedofbeingaplain-clothesdetective,waspointingoutsometheoryofhisown,whiletheotherscrowdedroundtolistentowhathesaid.IgotasnearhimasIcould,buthisobservationsseemedtometobeabsurd,soIwithdrewagaininsomedisgust.
