Знак чотирьох
VI. Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration
“Quiteso.Theyareinastateofextremecontraction,farexceedingtheusualrigormortis.Coupledwiththisdistortionoftheface,thisHippocraticsmile,or‘risussardonicus,’astheoldwriterscalledit,whatconclusionwoulditsuggesttoyourmind?”
“Deathfromsomepowerfulvegetablealkaloid,”Ianswered,—“somestrychnine-likesubstancewhichwouldproducetetanus.”
“ThatwastheideawhichoccurredtometheinstantIsawthedrawnmusclesoftheface.OngettingintotheroomIatoncelookedforthemeansbywhichthepoisonhadenteredthesystem.Asyousaw,Idiscoveredathornwhichhadbeendrivenorshotwithnogreatforceintothescalp.Youobservethatthepartstruckwasthatwhichwouldbeturnedtowardstheholeintheceilingifthemanwereerectinhischair.Nowexaminethethorn.”
Itookitupgingerlyandhelditinthelightofthelantern.Itwaslong,sharp,andblack,withaglazedlooknearthepointasthoughsomegummysubstancehaddrieduponit.Thebluntendhadbeentrimmedandroundedoffwithaknife.
“IsthatanEnglishthorn?”heasked.
“No,itcertainlyisnot.”
“Withallthesedatayoushouldbeabletodrawsomejustinference.Butherearetheregulars;sotheauxiliaryforcesmaybeataretreat.”
Ashespoke,thestepswhichhadbeencomingnearersoundedloudlyonthepassage,andaverystout,portlymaninagreysuitstrodeheavilyintotheroom.Hewasred-faced,burlyandplethoric,withapairofverysmalltwinklingeyeswhichlookedkeenlyoutfrombetweenswollenandpuffypouches.
