Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Naval Treaty
DoyouthinkthatyoucouldbringyourfriendMr.Holmesdowntoseeme?Ishouldliketohavehisopinionofthecase,thoughtheauthoritiesassuremethatnothingmorecanbedone.Dotrytobringhimdown,andassoonaspossible.EveryminuteseemsanhourwhileIliveinthisstateofhorriblesuspense.AssurehimthatifIhavenotaskedhisadvicesooneritwasnotbecauseIdidnotappreciatehistalents,butbecauseIhavebeenoffmyheadeversincetheblowfell.NowIamclearagain,thoughIdarenotthinkofittoomuchforfearofarelapse.IamstillsoweakthatIhavetowrite,asyousee,bydictating.
Dotrytobringhim.
Youroldschool-fellow,
PERCYPHELPS.
TherewassomethingthattouchedmeasIreadthis-letter,somethingpitiableinthereiteratedappealstobringHolmes.SomovedwasIthatevenhaditbeenadifficultmatterIshouldhavetriedit,butofcourseIknewwellthatHolmeslovedhisart,sothathewaseverasreadytobringhisaidashisclientcouldbetoreceiveit.Mywifeagreedwithmethatnotamomentshouldbelostinlayingthematterbeforehim,andsowithinanhourofbreakfast-timeIfoundmyselfbackoncemoreintheoldroomsinBakerStreet.
Holmeswasseatedathisside-tablecladinhisdressing-gownandworkinghardoverachemicalinvestigation.AlargecurvedretortwasboilingfuriouslyinthebluishflameofaBunsenburner,andthedistilleddropswerecondensingintoatwo-litremeasure.
