Знак чотирьох
VI. Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration
Couldyouscalethatwall,doctor?”
Ilookedoutoftheopenwindow.Themoonstillshonebrightlyonthatangleofthehouse.Wewereagoodsixtyfeetfromtheground,and,lookwhereIwould,Icouldseenofoothold,norasmuchasacreviceinthebrick-work.
“Itisabsolutelyimpossible,”Ianswered.
“Withoutaiditisso.ButsupposeyouhadafriendupherewholoweredyouthisgoodstoutropewhichIseeinthecorner,securingoneendofittothisgreathookinthewall.Then,Ithink,ifyouwereanactiveman,Youmightswarmup,woodenlegandall.Youwoulddepart,ofcourse,inthesamefashion,andyourallywoulddrawuptherope,untieitfromthehook,shutthewindow,snibitontheinside,andgetawayinthewaythatheoriginallycame.Asaminorpointitmaybenoted,”hecontinued,fingeringtherope,“thatourwooden-leggedfriend,thoughafairclimber,wasnotaprofessionalsailor.Hishandswerefarfromhorny.Mylensdisclosesmorethanoneblood-mark,especiallytowardstheendoftherope,fromwhichIgatherthatheslippeddownwithsuchvelocitythathetooktheskinoffhishand.”
“Thisisallverywell,”saidI,“butthethingbecomesmoreunintelligiblethanever.Howaboutthismysteriousally?Howcameheintotheroom?”
“Yes,theally!”repeatedHolmes,pensively.“Therearefeaturesofinterestaboutthisally.Heliftsthecasefromtheregionsofthecommonplace.Ifancythatthisallybreaksfreshgroundintheannalsofcrimeinthiscountry,—thoughparallelcasessuggestthemselvesfromIndia,and,ifmymemoryservesme,fromSenegambia.
