Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
Yourememberthatterriblemurderer,BertStevens,whowantedustogethimoffin’87?Wasthereeveramoremild-mannered,Sunday-schoolyoungman?”
“Itistrue.”
“Unlesswesucceedinestablishinganalternativetheory,thismanislost.Youcanhardlyfindaflawinthecasewhichcannowbepresentedagainsthim,andallfurtherinvestigationhasservedtostrengthenit.Bytheway,thereisonecuriouslittlepointaboutthosepaperswhichmayserveusasthestarting-pointforaninquiry.Onlookingoverthebank-bookIfoundthatthelowstateofthebalancewasprincipallyduetolargecheckswhichhavebeenmadeoutduringthelastyeartoMr.Cornelius.IconfessthatIshouldbeinterestedtoknowwhothisMr.Corneliusmaybewithwhomaretiredbuilderhassuchverylargetransactions.Isitpossiblethathehashadahandintheaffair?Corneliusmightbeabroker,butwehavefoundnoscriptocorrespondwiththeselargepayments.Failinganyotherindication,myresearchesmustnowtakethedirectionofaninquiryatthebankforthegentlemanwhohascashedthesechecks.ButIfear,mydearfellow,thatourcasewillendingloriouslybyLestradehangingourclient,whichwillcertainlybeatriumphforScotlandYard.”
IdonotknowhowfarSherlockHolmestookanysleepthatnight,butwhenIcamedowntobreakfastIfoundhimpaleandharassed,hisbrighteyesthebrighterforthedarkshadowsroundthem.Thecarpetroundhischairwaslitteredwithcigarette-endsandwiththeearlyeditionsofthemorningpapers.Anopentelegramlayuponthetable.
