Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Man with the Twisted Lip
"ThenIshallgoinit. ButImustowesomething. FindwhatIowe,Watson. Iamalloffcolour. Icandonothingformyself."
Iwalkeddownthenarrowpassagebetweenthedoublerowofsleepers,holdingmybreathtokeepoutthevile,stupefyingfumesofthedrug,andlookingaboutforthemanager. AsIpassedthetallmanwhosatbythebrazierIfeltasuddenpluckatmyskirt,andalowvoicewhispered, "Walkpastme,andthenlookbackatme." Thewordsfellquitedistinctlyuponmyear. Iglanceddown. Theycouldonlyhavecomefromtheoldmanatmyside,andyethesatnowasabsorbedasever,verythin,verywrinkled,bentwithage,anopiumpipedanglingdownfrombetweenhisknees,asthoughithaddroppedinsheerlassitudefromhisfingers. Itooktwostepsforwardandlookedback. Ittookallmyself-controltopreventmefrombreakingoutintoacryofastonishment. HehadturnedhisbacksothatnonecouldseehimbutI. Hisformhadfilledout,hiswrinklesweregone,thedulleyeshadregainedtheirfire,andthere,sittingbythefireandgrinningatmysurprise,wasnoneotherthanSherlockHolmes. Hemadeaslightmotiontometoapproachhim,andinstantly,asheturnedhisfacehalfroundtothecompanyoncemore,subsidedintoadoddering,loose-lippedsenility.
"Holmes!"Iwhispered,"whatonearthareyoudoinginthisden?"
"Aslowasyoucan,"heanswered;"Ihaveexcellentears. IfyouwouldhavethegreatkindnesstogetridofthatsottishfriendofyoursIshouldbeexceedinglygladtohavealittletalkwithyou.’
"Ihaveacaboutside."
"Thenpraysendhimhomeinit. Youmaysafelytrusthim,forheappearstobetoolimptogetintoanymischief. Ishouldrecommendyoualsotosendanotebythecabmantoyourwifetosaythatyouhavethrowninyourlotwithme. Ifyouwillwaitoutside,Ishallbewithyouinfiveminutes."
