Этюд в багровых тонах
The Lauriston Garden Mystery
Yoursfaithfully,
“TOBIASGREGSON.”
“GregsonisthesmartestoftheScotlandYarders,”myfriendremarked; “heandLestradearethepickofabadlot. Theyarebothquickandenergetic,butconventional—shockinglyso. Theyhavetheirknivesintooneanother,too. Theyareasjealousasapairofprofessionalbeauties. Therewillbesomefunoverthiscaseiftheyarebothputuponthescent.”
Iwasamazedatthecalmwayinwhichherippledon. “Surelythereisnotamomenttobelost,”Icried,“shallIgoandorderyouacab?”
“I’mnotsureaboutwhetherIshallgo. Iamthemostincurablylazydevilthateverstoodinshoeleather—thatis,whenthefitisonme,forIcanbespryenoughattimes.”
“Why,itisjustsuchachanceasyouhavebeenlongingfor.”
“Mydearfellow,whatdoesitmattertome. SupposingIunravelthewholematter,youmaybesurethatGregson,Lestrade,andCo.willpocketallthecredit. Thatcomesofbeinganunofficialpersonage.”
“Buthebegsyoutohelphim.”
“Yes. HeknowsthatIamhissuperior,andacknowledgesittome;buthewouldcuthistongueoutbeforehewouldownittoanythirdperson. However,wemayaswellgoandhavealook. Ishallworkitoutonmyownhook. ImayhavealaughatthemifIhavenothingelse. Comeon!”
Hehustledonhisovercoat,andbustledaboutinawaythatshowedthatanenergeticfithadsupersededtheapatheticone.
