Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Final Problem
ThegoodSteilerassuredmeinapostscriptthathewouldhimselflookuponmycomplianceasaverygreatfavour,sincetheladyabsolutelyrefusedtoseeaSwissphysician,andhecouldnotbutfeelthathewasincurringagreatresponsibility.
Theappealwasonewhichcouldnotbeignored.Itwasimpossibletorefusetherequestofafellow-countrywomandyinginastrangeland.YetIhadmyscruplesaboutleavingHolmes.Itwasfinallyagreed,however,thatheshouldretaintheyoungSwissmessengerwithhimasguideandcompanionwhileIreturnedtoMeiringen.Myfriendwouldstaysomelittletimeatthefall,hesaid,andwouldthenwalkslowlyoverthehilltoRosenlaui,whereIwastorejoinhimintheevening.AsIturnedawayIsawHolmes,withhisbackagainstarockandhisarmsfolded,gazingdownattherushofthewaters.ItwasthelastthatIwaseverdestinedtoseeofhiminthisworld.
WhenIwasnearthebottomofthedescentIlookedback.Itwasimpossible,fromthatposition,toseethefall,butIcouldseethecurvingpathwhichwindsovertheshoulderofthehillsandleadstoit.Alongthisamanwas,Iremember,walkingveryrapidly.
Icouldseehisblackfigureclearlyoutlinedagainstthegreenbehindhim.Inotedhim,andtheenergywithwhichhewalked,buthepassedfrommymindagainasIhurriedonuponmyerrand.
ItmayhavebeenalittleoveranhourbeforeIreachedMeiringen.OldSteilerwasstandingattheporchofhishotel.
