Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The “Gloria Scott”
Holmes,butitseemstomethatallthedetectivesoffactandoffancywouldbechildreninyourhands.That’syourlineoflife,sir,andyoumaytakethewordofamanwhohasseensomethingoftheworld.’
"Andthatrecommendation,withtheexaggeratedestimateofmyabilitywithwhichheprefacedit,was,ifyouwillbelieveme,Watson,theveryfirstthingwhichevermademefeelthataprofessionmightbemadeoutofwhathaduptothattimebeenthemeresthobby.Atthemoment,however,Iwastoomuchconcernedatthesuddenillnessofmyhosttothinkofanythingelse.
"‘IhopethatIhavesaidnothingtopainyou?"saidI.
"‘Well,youcertainlytoucheduponratheratenderpoint.MightIaskhowyouknow,andhowmuchyouknow?"Hespokenowinahalf-jestingfashion,butalookofterrorstilllurkedatthebackofhiseyes.
"‘Itissimplicityitself,"saidI.‘WhenyoubaredyourarmtodrawthatfishintotheboatIsawthatJ.A.hadbeentattooedinthebendoftheelbow.Theletterswerestilllegible,butitwasperfectlyclearfromtheirblurredappearance,andfromthestainingoftheskinroundthem,thateffortshadbeenmadetoobliteratethem.Itwasobvious,then,thatthoseinitialshadoncebeenveryfamiliartoyou,andthatyouhadafterwardswishedtoforgetthem.’
"‘Whataneyeyouhave!"hecriedwithasighofrelief.‘Itisjustasyousay.Butwewon’ttalkofit.Ofallghoststheghostsofouroldlovesaretheworst.
