Этюд в багровых тонах
The Science of Deduction.
Ihadnoideathatsuchindividualsdidexistoutsideofstories.”
SherlockHolmesroseandlithispipe. “NodoubtyouthinkthatyouarecomplimentingmeincomparingmetoDupin,”heobserved. “Now,inmyopinion,Dupinwasaveryinferiorfellow. Thattrickofhisofbreakinginonhisfriends’thoughtswithanaproposremarkafteraquarterofanhour’ssilenceisreallyveryshowyandsuperficial. Hehadsomeanalyticalgenius,nodoubt;buthewasbynomeanssuchaphenomenonasPoeappearedtoimagine.”
“HaveyoureadGaboriau’sworks?”Iasked. “DoesLecoqcomeuptoyourideaofadetective?”
SherlockHolmessniffedsardonically. “Lecoqwasamiserablebungler,”hesaid,inanangryvoice;“hehadonlyonethingtorecommendhim,andthatwashisenergy. Thatbookmademepositivelyill. Thequestionwashowtoidentifyanunknownprisoner. Icouldhavedoneitintwenty-fourhours. Lecoqtooksixmonthsorso. Itmightbemadeatext-bookfordetectivestoteachthemwhattoavoid.”
IfeltratherindignantathavingtwocharacterswhomIhadadmiredtreatedinthiscavalierstyle. Iwalkedovertothewindow,andstoodlookingoutintothebusystreet. “Thisfellowmaybeveryclever,”Isaidtomyself,“butheiscertainlyveryconceited.”
“Therearenocrimesandnocriminalsinthesedays,”hesaid,querulously. “Whatistheuseofhavingbrainsinourprofession. IknowwellthatIhaveitinmetomakemynamefamous.
