Все приключения Шерлока Холмса. Сборник. Уровень 2

”

“Patience, my friend, patience! I shall now add a little milk and give this mixture to the dog.”

As he spoke he turned the contents of the glass into a saucer and placed it in front of the terrier, who speedily drank it. Nothing happened, however. The dog continued to lie and breathe.

An expression of the utmost chagrin and disappointment appeared upon Holmes’ face. He gnawed his lip, and showed symptoms of acute impatience. Two detectives smiled derisively.

“It can’t be a coincidence,” Holmes cried; “it is impossible.

These pills which I suspected in the case of Drebber! They are here. And yet they are inert. What can it mean? It is impossible! Ah, I have it! I have it!”

With a perfect shriek of delight he rushed to the box, cut the other pill in two, dissolved it, added milk, and gave it to the terrier. The unfortunate dog drank the mixture again, gave a convulsive shiver, and lay lifeless.

Sherlock Holmes wiped the perspiration from his forehead.

“Of the two pills in that box one was of the most deadly poison,” he said; “and the other was entirely harmless.

”

“Look here, Mr. Sherlock Holmes,” said Mr. Gregson, “we are all ready to acknowledge that you are a smart man, and that you have your own methods of working. It seems I was wrong. It appears that Lestrade was wrong too. But we have a right to ask you straight how much you do know of the business. Can you name the man who did it?”

“Yes, sir,” remarked Lestrade.

“We both tried, and we both failed. But what is your opinion?”

“If you know the assassin, let’s arrest him,” I observed. “He may kill again.”

Holmes showed signs of irresolution.

“There will be no more murders,” he said at last. “You ask me if I know the name of the assassin. I do. But the question is to catch him. We deal with a shrewd and desperate man. And he has another one who is as clever as himself. If he has the slightest suspicion, he will change his name and vanish in an instant among the four million inhabitants of this great city.

Gentlemen, I promise that I will communicate with you when I’m ready to catch him.”

Gregson and Lestrade were not satisfied. There was a tap at the door, and young Wiggins came in.

“Please, sir,” he said, “I have the cab downstairs.”

“Good boy,” said Holmes, blandly. He took a pair of steel handcuffs from a drawer. “See how they fasten in an instant.