Этюд в багровых тонах
Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
Whathaveyoutoconfessnow?It’sjustaswellfortwofellowstoknowtheworstofoneanotherbeforetheybegintolivetogether.”
Ilaughedatthiscross-examination. “Ikeepabullpup,”Isaid,“andIobjecttorowsbecausemynervesareshaken,andIgetupatallsortsofungodlyhours,andIamextremelylazy. IhaveanothersetofviceswhenI’mwell,butthosearetheprincipalonesatpresent.”
“Doyouincludeviolin-playinginyourcategoryofrows?”heasked,anxiously.
“Itdependsontheplayer,”Ianswered.“Awell-playedviolinisatreatforthegods—abadly-playedone——”
“Oh,that’sallright,”hecried,withamerrylaugh.“Ithinkwemayconsiderthethingassettled—thatis,iftheroomsareagreeabletoyou.”
“Whenshallweseethem?”
“Callformehereatnoonto-morrow,andwe’llgotogetherandsettleeverything,”heanswered.
“Allright—noonexactly,”saidI,shakinghishand.
Welefthimworkingamonghischemicals,andwewalkedtogethertowardsmyhotel.
“Bytheway,”Iaskedsuddenly,stoppingandturninguponStamford,“howthedeucedidheknowthatIhadcomefromAfghanistan?”
Mycompanionsmiledanenigmaticalsmile. “That’sjusthislittlepeculiarity,”hesaid.“Agoodmanypeoplehavewantedtoknowhowhefindsthingsout.”
“Oh!amysteryisit?”Icried,rubbingmyhands. “Thisisverypiquant.Iammuchobligedtoyouforbringingustogether.‘Theproperstudyofmankindisman,’youknow.”
