Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
“Butweformedoursyesterday,andnowitprovestobecorrect,soyoumustacknowledgethatwehavebeenalittleinfrontofyouthistime,Mr.Holmes.”
“Youcertainlyhavetheairofsomethingunusualhavingoccurred,”saidHolmes.
Lestradelaughedloudly.
“Youdon’tlikebeingbeatenanymorethantherestofusdo,”saidhe.“Amancan’texpectalwaystohaveithisownway,canhe,Dr.Watson?Stepthisway,ifyouplease,gentlemen,andIthinkIcanconvinceyouonceforallthatitwasJohnMcFarlanewhodidthiscrime.”
Heledusthroughthepassageandoutintoadarkhallbeyond.
“ThisiswhereyoungMcFarlanemusthavecomeouttogethishatafterthecrimewasdone,”saidhe.“Nowlookatthis.”Withdramaticsuddennesshestruckamatch,andbyitslightexposedastainofblooduponthewhitewashedwall.Asheheldthematchnearer,Isawthatitwasmorethanastain.Itwasthewell-markedprintofathumb.
“Lookatthatwithyourmagnifyingglass,Mr.Holmes.”
“Yes,Iamdoingso.”
“Youareawarethatnotwothumb-marksarealike?”
“Ihaveheardsomethingofthekind.”
“Well,then,willyoupleasecomparethatprintwiththiswaximpressionofyoungMcFarlane’srightthumb,takenbymyordersthismorning?”
Asheheldthewaxenprintclosetotheblood-stain,itdidnottakeamagnifyingglasstoseethatthetwowereundoubtedlyfromthesamethumb.Itwasevidenttomethatourunfortunateclientwaslost.
“Thatisfinal,”saidLestrade.
“Yes,thatisfinal,”Iinvoluntarilyechoed.
“Itisfinal,”saidHolmes.
