Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Boscombe Valley Mystery
Hehadevensmokedthere. Ifoundtheashofacigar,whichmyspecialknowledgeoftobaccoashesenablesmetopronounceasanIndiancigar. Ihave,asyouknow,devotedsomeattentiontothis,andwrittenalittlemonographontheashesof140differentvarietiesofpipe,cigar,andcigarettetobacco. Havingfoundtheash,Ithenlookedroundanddiscoveredthestumpamongthemosswherehehadtossedit. ItwasanIndiancigar,ofthevarietywhicharerolledinRotterdam."
"Andthecigar-holder?"
"Icouldseethattheendhadnotbeeninhismouth. Thereforeheusedaholder. Thetiphadbeencutoff,notbittenoff,butthecutwasnotacleanone,soIdeducedabluntpen-knife."
"Holmes,"Isaid,"youhavedrawnanetroundthismanfromwhichhecannotescape,andyouhavesavedaninnocenthumanlifeastrulyasifyouhadcutthecordwhichwashanginghim. Iseethedirectioninwhichallthispoints. Theculpritis—"
"Mr.JohnTurner,"criedthehotelwaiter,openingthedoorofoursitting-room,andusheringinavisitor.
Themanwhoenteredwasastrangeandimpressivefigure. Hisslow,limpingstepandbowedshouldersgavetheappearanceofdecrepitude,andyethishard,deep-lined,craggyfeatures,andhisenormouslimbsshowedthathewaspossessedofunusualstrengthofbodyandofcharacter. Histangledbeard,grizzledhair,andoutstanding,droopingeyebrowscombinedtogiveanairofdignityandpowertohisappearance,buthisfacewasofanashenwhite,whilehislipsandthecornersofhisnostrilsweretingedwithashadeofblue. Itwascleartomeataglancethathewasinthegripofsomedeadlyandchronicdisease.
