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A Study in Scarlet, Chapter 3, Episode 3

Chapter 3, Episode 3

It was that of a man about forty-three or forty-four years of age, middle-sized, broad shouldered, with crisp curling black hair, and a short stubbly beard.

He was dressed in a heavy broadcloth frock coat and waistcoat, with light-coloured trousers, and immaculate collar and cuffs. A top hat, well brushed and trim, was placed upon the floor beside him. His hands were clenched and his arms thrown abroad, while his lower limbs were interlocked as though his death struggle had been a grievous one. On his rigid face there stood an expression of horror, and as it seemed to me, of hatred, such as I have never seen upon human features. This malignant and terrible contortion, combined with the low forehead, blunt nose, and prognathous jaw gave the dead man a singularly simious and ape-like appearance, which was increased by his writhing, unnatural posture. I have seen death in many forms, but never has it appeared to me in a more fearsome aspect than in that dark grimy apartment, which looked out upon one of the main arteries of suburban London.

Lestrade, lean and ferret-like as ever, was standing by the doorway, and greeted my companion and myself.

"This case will make a stir, sir," he remarked. "It beats anything I have seen, and I am no chicken. " "There is no clue?" said Gregson.

"None at all," chimed in Lestrade. Sherlock Holmes approached the body, and, kneeling down, examined it intently. "You are sure that there is no wound?" he asked, pointing to numerous gouts and splashes of blood which lay all round.

"Positive!" cried both detectives.

"Then, of course, this blood belongs to a second individual -- presumably the murderer, if murder has been committed. It reminds me of the circumstances attendant on the death of Van Jansen, in Utrecht, in the year '34. Do you remember the case, Gregson? " "No, sir. " "Read it up -- you really should. There is nothing new under the sun. It has all been done before. " As he spoke, his nimble fingers were flying here, there, and everywhere, feeling, pressing, unbuttoning, examining, while his eyes wore the same far-away expression which I have already remarked upon. So swiftly was the examination made, that one would hardly have guessed the minuteness with which it was conducted. Finally, he sniffed the dead man's lips, and then glanced at the soles of his patent leather boots.

"He has not been moved at all?" he asked.

"No more than was necessary for the purposes of our examination. " "You can take him to the mortuary now," he said. "There is nothing more to be learned. " Gregson had a stretcher and four men at hand. At his call they entered the room, and the stranger was lifted and carried out. As they raised him, a ring tinkled down and rolled across the floor. Lestrade grabbed it up and stared at it with mystified eyes.

"There's been a woman here," he cried. "It's a woman's wedding-ring. " He held it out, as he spoke, upon the palm of his hand. We all gathered round him and gazed at it. There could be no doubt that that circlet of plain gold had once adorned the finger of a bride.

"This complicates matters," said Gregson. "Heaven knows, they were complicated enough before. " "You're sure it doesn't simplify them?" observed Holmes. "There's nothing to be learned by staring at it. What did you find in his pockets? " "We have it all here," said Gregson, pointing to a litter of objects upon one of the bottom steps of the stairs. "A gold watch, No. 97163, by Barraud, of London. Gold Albert chain, very heavy and solid. Gold ring, with Masonic device. Gold pin -- bull-dog's head, with rubies as eyes. Russian leather card-case, with cards of Enoch J. Drebber of Cleveland, corresponding with the E. J. D. upon the linen. No purse, but loose money to the extent of seven pounds thirteen. Pocket edition of Boccaccio's `Decameron,' with name of Joseph Stangerson upon the fly-leaf. Two letters -- one addressed to E. J. Drebber and one to Joseph Stangerson. " "At what address? " "American Exchange, Strand -- to be left till called for. They are both from the Guion Steamship Company, and refer to the sailing of their boats from Liverpool. It is clear that this unfortunate man was about to return to New York. " "Have you made any inquiries as to this man, Stangerson? " "I did it at once, sir," said Gregson. "I have had advertisements sent to all the newspapers, and one of my men has gone to the American Exchange, but he has not returned yet. " "Have you sent to Cleveland? " "We telegraphed this morning. " "How did you word your inquiries? " "We simply detailed the circumstances, and said that we should be glad of any information which could help us. " "You did not ask for particulars on any point which appeared to you to be crucial? " "I asked about Stangerson. " "Nothing else? Is there no circumstance on which this whole case appears to hinge? Will you not telegraph again? " "I have said all I have to say," said Gregson, in an offended voice. Sherlock Holmes chuckled to himself, and appeared to be about to make some remark, when Lestrade, who had been in the front room while we were holding this conversation in the hall, reappeared upon the scene, rubbing his hands in a pompous and self-satisfied manner.

"Mr. Gregson," he said, "I have just made a discovery of the highest importance, and one which would have been overlooked had I not made a careful examination of the walls. " The little man's eyes sparkled as he spoke, and he was evidently in a state of suppressed exultation at having scored a point against his colleague.

"Come here," he said, bustling back into the room, the atmosphere of which felt clearer since the removal of its ghastly inmate. "Now, stand there! " He struck a match on his boot and held it up against the wall.

"Look at that! "

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Chapter 3, Episode 3 Kapitel 3, Folge 3 Κεφάλαιο 3, Επεισόδιο 3 Capítulo 3, Episodio 3 Capitolo 3, Episodio 3 3 skyrius, 3 epizodas Глава 3, Эпизод 3

It was that of a man about forty-three or forty-four years of age, middle-sized, broad shouldered, with crisp curling black hair, and a short stubbly beard. Это был мужчина лет сорока трех или сорока четырех лет, среднего роста, с широкими плечами, с кудрявыми вьющимися черными волосами и короткой короткой бородой.

He was dressed in a heavy broadcloth frock coat and waistcoat, with light-coloured trousers, and immaculate collar and cuffs. Он был одет в тяжелое сюртук и жилет из широкой ткани, со светлыми брюками, безупречным воротником и манжетами. A top hat, well brushed and trim, was placed upon the floor beside him. Цилиндр, хорошо вычищенный и подстриженный, лежал на полу рядом с ним. His hands were clenched and his arms thrown abroad, while his lower limbs were interlocked as though his death struggle had been a grievous one. Его руки были сжаты, а руки раскинуты в стороны, а нижние конечности сцеплены, как будто его предсмертная борьба была тяжелой. On his rigid face there stood an expression of horror, and as it seemed to me, of hatred, such as I have never seen upon human features. На его застывшем лице стояло выражение ужаса и, как мне показалось, ненависти, какой я никогда не видел на человеческих чертах. This malignant and terrible contortion, combined with the low forehead, blunt nose, and prognathous jaw gave the dead man a singularly simious and ape-like appearance, which was increased by his writhing, unnatural posture. Это злобное и ужасное искривление в сочетании с низким лбом, тупым носом и выдающейся челюстью придавало покойнику необычайно похожий и обезьяноподобный вид, который усиливался его корчащейся, неестественной позой. I have seen death in many forms, but never has it appeared to me in a more fearsome aspect than in that dark grimy apartment, which looked out upon one of the main arteries of suburban London. Я видел смерть во многих формах, но никогда она не представлялась мне в более устрашающем виде, чем в этой темной закопченной квартире, которая выходила окнами на одну из главных артерий пригорода Лондона.

Lestrade, lean and ferret-like as ever, was standing by the doorway, and greeted my companion and myself. Лестрейд, худощавый и похожий на хорька, как всегда, стоял в дверях и приветствовал меня и моего спутника.

"This case will make a stir, sir," he remarked. "Это дело вызовет переполох, сэр," заметил он. "It beats anything I have seen, and I am no chicken. " "There is no clue?" said Gregson.

"None at all," chimed in Lestrade. — Вовсе нет, — вмешался Лестрейд. Sherlock Holmes approached the body, and, kneeling down, examined it intently. "You are sure that there is no wound?" he asked, pointing to numerous gouts and splashes of blood which lay all round. — спросил он, указывая на многочисленные подтеки и брызги крови, лежавшие кругом.

"Positive!" cried both detectives.

"Then, of course, this blood belongs to a second individual -- presumably the murderer, if murder has been committed. It reminds me of the circumstances attendant on the death of Van Jansen, in Utrecht, in the year '34. Это напоминает мне обстоятельства, сопутствовавшие смерти Ван Янсена в Утрехте в 34-м году. Do you remember the case, Gregson? " "No, sir. " "Read it up -- you really should. There is nothing new under the sun. It has all been done before. " As he spoke, his nimble fingers were flying here, there, and everywhere, feeling, pressing, unbuttoning, examining, while his eyes wore the same far-away expression which I have already remarked upon. Пока он говорил, его проворные пальцы летали туда, сюда и всюду, ощупывая, нажимая, расстегивая, рассматривая, а глаза его носили то самое далекое выражение, которое я уже заметил. So swiftly was the examination made, that one would hardly have guessed the minuteness with which it was conducted. Так быстро был произведен осмотр, что трудно было догадаться, с какой тщательностью он был проведен. Finally, he sniffed the dead man’s lips, and then glanced at the soles of his patent leather boots. Наконец он понюхал губы мертвеца, а потом взглянул на подошвы его лакированных сапог.

"He has not been moved at all?" he asked.

"No more than was necessary for the purposes of our examination. " "You can take him to the mortuary now," he said. — Теперь вы можете отвезти его в морг, — сказал он. "There is nothing more to be learned. " Gregson had a stretcher and four men at hand. At his call they entered the room, and the stranger was lifted and carried out. As they raised him, a ring tinkled down and rolled across the floor. Когда они подняли его, кольцо со звоном опустилось и покатилось по полу. Lestrade grabbed it up and stared at it with mystified eyes.

"There’s been a woman here," he cried. "It’s a woman’s wedding-ring. " He held it out, as he spoke, upon the palm of his hand. We all gathered round him and gazed at it. Мы все собрались вокруг него и смотрели на него. There could be no doubt that that circlet of plain gold had once adorned the finger of a bride. Не могло быть никаких сомнений, что этот венец из чистого золота когда-то украшал палец невесты.

"This complicates matters," said Gregson. "Heaven knows, they were complicated enough before. " "You’re sure it doesn’t simplify them?" observed Holmes. "There’s nothing to be learned by staring at it. What did you find in his pockets? " "We have it all here," said Gregson, pointing to a litter of objects upon one of the bottom steps of the stairs. «У нас здесь есть все», — сказал Грегсон, указывая на груду предметов на одной из нижних ступеней лестницы. "A gold watch, No. 97163, by Barraud, of London. Gold Albert chain, very heavy and solid. Золотая цепочка Альберта, очень тяжелая и прочная. Gold ring, with Masonic device. Gold pin -- bull-dog’s head, with rubies as eyes. Russian leather card-case, with cards of Enoch J. Drebber of Cleveland, corresponding with the E. J. D. upon the linen. Визитница кожаная русская, с карточками Еноха Дж. Дреббера из Кливленда, соответствующие ЭЖД на полотне. No purse, but loose money to the extent of seven pounds thirteen. Кошелька нет, но есть свободные деньги в размере семи фунтов тринадцати. Pocket edition of Boccaccio’s `Decameron,' with name of Joseph Stangerson upon the fly-leaf. Карманное издание «Декамерона» Боккаччо с именем Джозефа Стэнджерсона на форзаце. Two letters -- one addressed to E. J. Drebber and one to Joseph Stangerson. " "At what address? " "American Exchange, Strand -- to be left till called for. They are both from the Guion Steamship Company, and refer to the sailing of their boats from Liverpool. It is clear that this unfortunate man was about to return to New York. " "Have you made any inquiries as to this man, Stangerson? " "I did it at once, sir," said Gregson. "I have had advertisements sent to all the newspapers, and one of my men has gone to the American Exchange, but he has not returned yet. " "Have you sent to Cleveland? " "We telegraphed this morning. " "How did you word your inquiries? " "We simply detailed the circumstances, and said that we should be glad of any information which could help us. " "You did not ask for particulars on any point which appeared to you to be crucial? " — Вы не запрашивали подробностей ни по одному пункту, который показался вам решающим? "I asked about Stangerson. " "Nothing else? Is there no circumstance on which this whole case appears to hinge? Нет ли обстоятельств, от которых, по-видимому, зависит все это дело? Will you not telegraph again? " "I have said all I have to say," said Gregson, in an offended voice. Sherlock Holmes chuckled to himself, and appeared to be about to make some remark, when Lestrade, who had been in the front room while we were holding this conversation in the hall, reappeared upon the scene, rubbing his hands in a pompous and self-satisfied manner. Шерлок Холмс усмехнулся про себя и, казалось, собирался сделать какое-то замечание, когда Лестрейд, который находился в гостиной, пока мы вели этот разговор в холле, снова появился на сцене, потирая руки в напыщенном и самодовольном довольный образ.

"Mr. Gregson," he said, "I have just made a discovery of the highest importance, and one which would have been overlooked had I not made a careful examination of the walls. " The little man’s eyes sparkled as he spoke, and he was evidently in a state of suppressed exultation at having scored a point against his colleague. Глаза человечка блестели, когда он говорил, и он, очевидно, пребывал в состоянии сдержанного ликования по поводу того, что набрал очко против своего коллеги.

"Come here," he said, bustling back into the room, the atmosphere of which felt clearer since the removal of its ghastly inmate. — Иди сюда, — сказал он, суетливо возвращаясь в комнату, атмосфера в которой стала яснее после удаления ужасного обитателя. "Now, stand there! " He struck a match on his boot and held it up against the wall. Он чиркнул спичкой о сапог и поднес ее к стене.

"Look at that! "