Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Speckled Band
Myattentionwasspeedilydrawn,asIhavealreadyremarkedtoyou,tothisventilator,andtothebell-ropewhichhungdowntothebed. Thediscoverythatthiswasadummy,andthatthebedwasclampedtothefloor,instantlygaverisetothesuspicionthattheropewasthereasabridgeforsomethingpassingthroughtheholeandcomingtothebed. Theideaofasnakeinstantlyoccurredtome,andwhenIcoupleditwithmyknowledgethatthedoctorwasfurnishedwithasupplyofcreaturesfromIndia,IfeltthatIwasprobablyontherighttrack. TheideaofusingaformofpoisonwhichcouldnotpossiblybediscoveredbyanychemicaltestwasjustsuchaoneaswouldoccurtoacleverandruthlessmanwhohadhadanEasterntraining. Therapiditywithwhichsuchapoisonwouldtakeeffectwouldalso,fromhispointofview,beanadvantage. Itwouldbeasharp-eyedcoroner,indeed,whocoulddistinguishthetwolittledarkpunctureswhichwouldshowwherethepoisonfangshaddonetheirwork. ThenIthoughtofthewhistle. Ofcoursehemustrecallthesnakebeforethemorninglightrevealedittothevictim. Hehadtrainedit,probablybytheuseofthemilkwhichwesaw,toreturntohimwhensummoned. Hewouldputitthroughthisventilatoratthehourthathethoughtbest,withthecertaintythatitwouldcrawldowntheropeandlandonthebed. Itmightormightnotbitetheoccupant,perhapsshemightescapeeverynightforaweek,butsoonerorlatershemustfallavictim.
"IhadcometotheseconclusionsbeforeeverIhadenteredhisroom. Aninspectionofhischairshowedmethathehadbeeninthehabitofstandingonit,whichofcoursewouldbenecessaryinorderthatheshouldreachtheventilator. Thesightofthesafe,thesaucerofmilk,andtheloopofwhipcordwereenoughtofinallydispelanydoubtswhichmayhaveremained. ThemetallicclangheardbyMissStonerwasobviouslycausedbyherstepfatherhastilyclosingthedoorofhissafeuponitsterribleoccupant.
