Знак четырех
VI. Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration
”
“Howcamehe,then?”Ireiterated.“Thedoorislocked,thewindowisinaccessible.Wasitthroughthechimney?”
“Thegrateismuchtoosmall,”heanswered.“Ihadalreadyconsideredthatpossibility.”
“Howthen?”Ipersisted.
“Youwillnotapplymyprecept,”hesaid,shakinghishead.“HowoftenhaveIsaidtoyouthatwhenyouhaveeliminatedtheimpossiblewhateverremains,howeverimprobable,mustbethetruth?Weknowthathedidnotcomethroughthedoor,thewindow,orthechimney.Wealsoknowthathecouldnothavebeenconcealedintheroom,asthereisnoconcealmentpossible.Whence,then,didhecome?”
“Hecamethroughtheholeintheroof,”Icried.
“Ofcoursehedid.Hemusthavedoneso.Ifyouwillhavethekindnesstoholdthelampforme,weshallnowextendourresearchestotheroomabove,—thesecretroominwhichthetreasurewasfound.”
Hemountedthesteps,and,seizingarafterwitheitherhand,heswunghimselfupintothegarret.Then,lyingonhisface,hereacheddownforthelampandhelditwhileIfollowedhim.
Thechamberinwhichwefoundourselveswasabouttenfeetonewayandsixtheother.Thefloorwasformedbytherafters,withthinlath-and-plasterbetween,sothatinwalkingonehadtostepfrombeamtobeam.Theroofranuptoanapex,andwasevidentlytheinnershellofthetrueroofofthehouse.Therewasnofurnitureofanysort,andtheaccumulateddustofyearslaythickuponthefloor.
“Hereyouare,yousee,”saidSherlockHolmes,puttinghishandagainsttheslopingwall.
