Знак четырех
I. The Science of Deduction
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Iwasannoyedatthiscriticismofaworkwhichhadbeenspeciallydesignedtopleasehim.Iconfess,too,thatIwasirritatedbytheegotismwhichseemedtodemandthateverylineofmypamphletshouldbedevotedtohisownspecialdoings.MorethanonceduringtheyearsthatIhadlivedwithhiminBakerStreetIhadobservedthatasmallvanityunderlaymycompanion’squietanddidacticmanner.Imadenoremark,however,butsatnursingmywoundedleg.IhadaJezailbulletthroughitsometimebefore,and,thoughitdidnotpreventmefromwalking,itachedwearilyateverychangeoftheweather.
“MypracticehasextendedrecentlytotheContinent,”saidHolmes,afterawhile,fillinguphisoldbrier-rootpipe.“IwasconsultedlastweekbyFrançoisLeVillard,who,asyouprobablyknow,hascomerathertothefrontlatelyintheFrenchdetectiveservice.HehasalltheCelticpowerofquickintuition,butheisdeficientinthewiderangeofexactknowledgewhichisessentialtothehigherdevelopmentsofhisart.Thecasewasconcernedwithawill,andpossessedsomefeaturesofinterest.Iwasabletoreferhimtotwoparallelcases,theoneatRigain1857,andtheotheratSt.Louisin1871,whichhavesuggestedtohimthetruesolution.HereistheletterwhichIhadthismorningacknowledgingmyassistance.”Hetossedover,ashespoke,acrumpledsheetofforeignnotepaper.Iglancedmyeyesdownit,catchingaprofusionofnotesofadmiration,withstray“magnifiques,”“coup-de-maîtres,”and“tours-de-force,”alltestifyingtotheardentadmirationoftheFrenchman.
