Знак чотирьох
VI. Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration
“Thisisatrap-doorwhichleadsoutontotheroof.Icanpressitback,andhereistheroofitself,slopingatagentleangle.This,then,isthewaybywhichNumberOneentered.Letusseeifwecanfindanyothertracesofhisindividuality.”
Hehelddownthelamptothefloor,andashedidsoIsawforthesecondtimethatnightastartled,surprisedlookcomeoverhisface.Formyself,asIfollowedhisgazemyskinwascoldundermyclothes.Thefloorwascoveredthicklywiththeprintsofanakedfoot,—clear,welldefined,perfectlyformed,butscarcehalfthesizeofthoseofanordinaryman.
“Holmes,”Isaid,inawhisper,“achildhasdonethehorridthing.”
Hehadrecoveredhisself-possessioninaninstant.“Iwasstaggeredforthemoment,”hesaid,“butthethingisquitenatural.Mymemoryfailedme,orIshouldhavebeenabletoforetellit.Thereisnothingmoretobelearnedhere.Letusgodown.”
“Whatisyourtheory,then,astothosefootmarks?”Iasked,eagerly,whenwehadregainedthelowerroomoncemore.
“MydearWatson,tryalittleanalysisyourself,”saidhe,withatouchofimpatience.“Youknowmymethods.Applythem,anditwillbeinstructivetocompareresults.”
“Icannotconceiveanythingwhichwillcoverthefacts,”Ianswered.
“Itwillbeclearenoughtoyousoon,”hesaid,inanoff-handway.“Ithinkthatthereisnothingelseofimportancehere,butIwilllook.
