Знак четырех
IV. The Story of the Bald-Headed Man
“Icangiveyoueveryinformation,”saidhe,“and,whatismore,Icandoyoujustice;andIwill,too,whateverBrotherBartholomewmaysay.Iamsogladtohaveyourfriendshere,notonlyasanescorttoyou,butalsoaswitnessestowhatIamabouttodoandsay.ThethreeofuscanshowaboldfronttoBrotherBartholomew.Butletushavenooutsiders,—nopoliceorofficials.Wecansettleeverythingsatisfactorilyamongourselves,withoutanyinterference.NothingwouldannoyBrotherBartholomewmorethananypublicity.”Hesatdownuponalowsetteeandblinkedatusinquiringlywithhisweak,wateryblueeyes.
“Formypart,”saidHolmes,“whateveryoumaychoosetosaywillgonofurther.”
Inoddedtoshowmyagreement.
“Thatiswell!Thatiswell!”saidhe.“MayIofferyouaglassofChianti,MissMorstan?OrofTokay?Ikeepnootherwines.ShallIopenaflask?No?Well,then,Itrustthatyouhavenoobjectiontotobacco-smoke,tothemildbalsamicodouroftheEasterntobacco.Iamalittlenervous,andIfindmyhookahaninvaluablesedative.”Heappliedatapertothegreatbowl,andthesmokebubbledmerrilythroughtherose-water.Wesatallthreeinasemi-circle,withourheadsadvanced,andourchinsuponourhands,whilethestrange,jerkylittlefellow,withhishigh,shininghead,puffeduneasilyinthecentre.
“WhenIfirstdeterminedtomakethiscommunicationtoyou,”saidhe,“Imighthavegivenyoumyaddress,butIfearedthatyoumightdisregardmyrequestandbringunpleasantpeoplewithyou.
