Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
Thebullethadbeenfiredathimfromthefront,andhadremainedinhisbody,afterpenetratingtheheart.Hisdeathhadcertainlybeeninstantaneousandpainless.Therewasnopowder-markingeitheruponhisdressing-gownoronhishands.Accordingtothecountrysurgeon,theladyhadstainsuponherface,butnoneuponherhand.
“Theabsenceofthelattermeansnothing,thoughitspresencemaymeaneverything,”saidHolmes.“Unlessthepowderfromabadlyfittingcartridgehappenstospurtbackward,onemayfiremanyshotswithoutleavingasign.IwouldsuggestthatMr.Cubitt’sbodymaynowberemoved.Isuppose,Doctor,youhavenotrecoveredthebulletwhichwoundedthelady?”
“Aseriousoperationwillbenecessarybeforethatcanbedone.Buttherearestillfourcartridgesintherevolver.Twohavebeenfiredandtwowoundsinflicted,sothateachbulletcanbeaccountedfor.”
“Soitwouldseem,”saidHolmes.“Perhapsyoucanaccountalsoforthebulletwhichhassoobviouslystrucktheedgeofthewindow?”
Hehadturnedsuddenly,andhislong,thinfingerwaspointingtoaholewhichhadbeendrilledrightthroughthelowerwindow-sash,aboutaninchabovethebottom.
“ByGeorge!”criedtheinspector.“Howeverdidyouseethat?”
“BecauseIlookedforit.”
“Wonderful!”saidthecountrydoctor.“Youarecertainlyright,sir.Thenathirdshothasbeenfired,andthereforeathirdpersonmusthavebeenpresent.Butwhocouldthathavebeen,andhowcouldhehavegotaway?”
“Thatistheproblemwhichwearenowabouttosolve,”saidSherlockHolmes.
