Собака Баскервиллей
Mr. Sherlock Holmes
"Ipresume,sir,"saidheatlast, "thatitwasnotmerelyforthepurposeofexaminingmyskullthatyouhavedonemethehonourtocallherelastnightandagainto-day?"
"No,sir,no;thoughIamhappytohavehadtheopportunityofdoingthataswell. Icametoyou,Mr.Holmes,becauseIrecognizedthatIammyselfanunpracticalman andbecauseIamsuddenlyconfrontedwithamostseriousandextraordinaryproblem. Recognizing,asIdo,thatyouarethesecondhighestexpertinEurope—"
"Indeed,sir!MayIinquirewhohasthehonourtobethefirst?"askedHolmeswithsomeasperity.
"TothemanofpreciselyscientificmindtheworkofMonsieurBertillonmustalwaysappealstrongly."
"Thenhadyounotbetterconsulthim?"
"Isaid,sir,tothepreciselyscientificmind. Butasapracticalmanofaffairsitisacknowledgedthatyoustandalone. Itrust,sir,thatIhavenotinadvertently—"
"Justalittle,"saidHolmes. "Ithink,Dr.Mortimer,youwoulddowiselyifwithoutmoreadoyouwouldkindlytellmeplainly whattheexactnatureoftheproblemisinwhichyoudemandmyassistance."