Этюд в багровых тонах
The Science of Deduction.
“AsforthearticleIwroteitmyself.”
“You!”
“Yes,Ihaveaturnbothforobservationandfordeduction. ThetheorieswhichIhaveexpressedthere,andwhichappeartoyoutobesochimericalarereallyextremelypractical—sopracticalthatIdependuponthemformybreadandcheese.”
“Andhow?”Iaskedinvoluntarily.
“Well,Ihaveatradeofmyown. IsupposeIamtheonlyoneintheworld. I’maconsultingdetective,ifyoucanunderstandwhatthatis. HereinLondonwehavelotsofGovernmentdetectivesandlotsofprivateones. Whenthesefellowsareatfaulttheycometome,andImanagetoputthemontherightscent. Theylayalltheevidencebeforeme,andIamgenerallyable,bythehelpofmyknowledgeofthehistoryofcrime,tosetthemstraight. Thereisastrongfamilyresemblanceaboutmisdeeds,andifyouhaveallthedetailsofathousandatyourfingerends,itisoddifyoucan’tunravelthethousandandfirst. Lestradeisawell-knowndetective. Hegothimselfintoafogrecentlyoveraforgerycase,andthatwaswhatbroughthimhere.”
“Andtheseotherpeople?”
“Theyaremostlysentonbyprivateinquiryagencies. Theyareallpeoplewhoareintroubleaboutsomething,andwantalittleenlightening. Ilistentotheirstory,theylistentomycomments,andthenIpocketmyfee.”
“Butdoyoumeantosay,”Isaid,“thatwithoutleavingyourroomyoucanunravelsomeknotwhichothermencanmakenothingof,althoughtheyhaveseeneverydetailforthemselves?”
“Quiteso.Ihaveakindofintuitionthatway.
