Возвращение Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
Whyanyburglarshouldtakesuchathingpassesmyunderstanding,foritwasonlyaplastercastandofnorealvaluewhatever.
“Youcanseeforyourselfthatanyonegoingoutthroughthatopenwindowcouldreachthefrontdoorstepbytakingalongstride.Thiswasclearlywhattheburglarhaddone,soIwentroundandopenedthedoor.Steppingoutintothedark,Inearlyfelloveradeadman,whowaslyingthere.Iranbackforalightandtherewasthepoorfellow,agreatgashinhisthroatandthewholeplaceswimminginblood.Helayonhisback,hiskneesdrawnup,andhismouthhorriblyopen.Ishallseehiminmydreams.Ihadjusttimetoblowonmypolice-whistle,andthenImusthavefainted,forIknewnothingmoreuntilIfoundthepolicemanstandingovermeinthehall.”
“Well,whowasthemurderedman?”askedHolmes.
“There’snothingtoshowwhohewas,”saidLestrade.“Youshallseethebodyatthemortuary,butwehavemadenothingofituptonow.Heisatallman,sunburned,verypowerful,notmorethanthirty.Heispoorlydressed,andyetdoesnotappeartobealabourer.Ahorn-handledclaspknifewaslyinginapoolofbloodbesidehim.Whetheritwastheweaponwhichdidthedeed,orwhetheritbelongedtothedeadman,Idonotknow.Therewasnonameonhisclothing,andnothinginhispocketssaveanapple,somestring,ashillingmapofLondon,andaphotograph.Hereitis.”
Itwasevidentlytakenbyasnapshotfromasmallcamera.