Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Greek Interpreter
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Peeringin,wecouldseethattheonlylightintheroomcamefromadullblueflamewhichflickeredfromasmallbrasstripodinthecentre.Itthrewalividunnaturalcircleuponthefloor,whileintheshadowsbeyondwesawthevagueloomoftwofigureswhichcrouchedagainstthewall.Fromtheopendoortherereekedahorriblepoisonousexhalationwhichsetusgaspingandcoughing.Holmesrushedtothetopofthestairstodrawinthefreshair,andthen,dashingintotheroom,hethrewupthewindowandhurledthebrazentripodoutintothegarden.
"Wecanenterinaminute,"hegasped,dartingoutagain."Whereisacandle?Idoubtifwecouldstrikeamatchinthatatmosphere.Holdthelightatthedoorandweshallgetthemout,Mycroft,now!"
Witharushwegottothepoisonedmenanddraggedthemoutintothewell-lithall.Bothofthemwereblue-lippedandinsensible,withswollen,congestedfacesandprotrudingeyes.Indeed,sodistortedweretheirfeaturesthat,saveforhisblackbeardandstoutfigure,wemighthavefailedtorecognizeinoneofthemtheGreekinterpreterwhohadpartedfromusonlyafewhoursbeforeattheDiogenesClub.Hishandsandfeetweresecurelystrappedtogether,andheboreoveroneeyethemarksofaviolentblow.Theother,whowassecuredinasimilarfashionwasatallmaninthelaststageofemaciation,withseveralstripsofsticking-plasterarrangedinagrotesquepatternoverhisface.
