Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Boscombe Valley Mystery
YouknowmetoowelltothinkthatIamboastingwhenIsaythatIshalleitherconfirmordestroyhistheorybymeanswhichheisquiteincapableofemploying,orevenofunderstanding. Totakethefirstexampletohand,Iveryclearlyperceivethatinyourbedroomthewindowisupontheright-handside,andyetIquestionwhetherMr.Lestradewouldhavenotedevensoself-evidentathingasthat."
"Howonearth—"
"Mydearfellow,Iknowyouwell. Iknowthemilitaryneatnesswhichcharacterizesyou. Youshaveeverymorning,andinthisseasonyoushavebythesunlight; butsinceyourshavingislessandlesscompleteaswegetfartherbackontheleftside,untilitbecomespositivelyslovenlyaswegetroundtheangleofthejaw,itissurelyveryclearthatthatsideislessilluminatedthantheother. Icouldnotimagineamanofyourhabitslookingathimselfinanequallightandbeingsatisfiedwithsucharesult. Ionlyquotethisasatrivialexampleofobservationandinference. Thereinliesmymetier,anditisjustpossiblethatitmaybeofsomeserviceintheinvestigationwhichliesbeforeus. Thereareoneortwominorpointswhichwerebroughtoutintheinquest,andwhichareworthconsidering."
"Whatarethey?"
"Itappearsthathisarrestdidnottakeplaceatonce,butafterthereturntoHatherleyFarm. Ontheinspectorofconstabularyinforminghimthathewasaprisoner,heremarkedthathewasnotsurprisedtohearit,andthatitwasnomorethanhisdeserts. Thisobservationofhishadthenaturaleffectofremovinganytracesofdoubtwhichmighthaveremainedinthemindsofthecoroner’sjury."
