Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
Verylikelyitjustsohappened,andOldacrehadhimselfnonotionoftheusehewouldputitto.Broodingoverthecaseinthatdenofhis,itsuddenlystruckhimwhatabsolutelydamningevidencehecouldmakeagainstMcFarlanebyusingthatthumb-mark.Itwasthesimplestthingintheworldforhimtotakeawaximpressionfromtheseal,tomoistenitinasmuchbloodashecouldgetfromapin-prick,andtoputthemarkuponthewallduringthenight,eitherwithhisownhandorwiththatofhishousekeeper.Ifyouexamineamongthosedocumentswhichhetookwithhimintohisretreat,Iwilllayyouawagerthatyoufindthesealwiththethumb-markuponit.”
“Wonderful!”saidLestrade.“Wonderful!It’sallasclearascrystal,asyouputit.Butwhatistheobjectofthisdeepdeception,Mr.Holmes?”
Itwasamusingtometoseehowthedetective’soverbearingmannerhadchangedsuddenlytothatofachildaskingquestionsofitsteacher.
“Well,Idon’tthinkthatisveryhardtoexplain.Averydeep,malicious,vindictivepersonisthegentlemanwhoisnowwaitingusdownstairs.YouknowthathewasoncerefusedbyMcFarlane’smother?Youdon’t!ItoldyouthatyoushouldgotoBlackheathfirstandNorwoodafterwards.Well,thisinjury,ashewouldconsiderit,hasrankledinhiswicked,schemingbrain,andallhislifehehaslongedforvengeance,butneverseenhischance.Duringthelastyearortwo,thingshavegoneagainsthim—secretspeculation,Ithink—andhefindshimselfinabadway.Hedeterminestoswindlehiscreditors,andforthispurposehepayslargecheckstoacertainMr.
