Знак чотирьох
VIII. The Baker Street Irregulars
Jones’swell-knowntechnicalknowledgeandhispowersofminuteobservationhaveenabledhimtoproveconclusivelythatthemiscreantscouldnothaveenteredbythedoororbythewindow,butmusthavemadetheirwayacrosstheroofofthebuilding,andsothroughatrap-doorintoaroomwhichcommunicatedwiththatinwhichthebodywasfound.Thisfact,whichhasbeenveryclearlymadeout,provesconclusivelythatitwasnomerehaphazardburglary.Thepromptandenergeticactionoftheofficersofthelawshowsthegreatadvantageofthepresenceonsuchoccasionsofasinglevigorousandmasterfulmind.Wecannotbutthinkthatitsuppliesanargumenttothosewhowouldwishtoseeourdetectivesmoredecentralised,andsobroughtintocloserandmoreeffectivetouchwiththecaseswhichitistheirdutytoinvestigate.”
“Isn’titgorgeous!”saidHolmes,grinningoverhiscoffee-cup.“Whatdoyouthinkofit?”
“Ithinkthatwehavehadacloseshaveourselvesofbeingarrestedforthecrime.”
“SodoI.Iwouldn’tanswerforoursafetynow,ifheshouldhappentohaveanotherofhisattacksofenergy.”
Atthismomenttherewasaloudringatthebell,andIcouldhearMrs.Hudson,ourlandlady,raisinghervoiceinawailofexpostulationanddismay.
“Byheaven,Holmes,”Isaid,halfrising,“Ibelievethattheyarereallyafterus.”
“No,it’snotquitesobadasthat.Itistheunofficialforce,—theBakerStreetirregulars.
