Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Resident Patient
Hehasbeenforsomeyearsavictimtocatalepticattacks,onwhich,asiswellknown,Dr.Trevelyanisanauthority.Heproposestocallataboutaquarter-pastsixto-morrowevening,ifDr.Trevelyanwillmakeitconvenienttobeathome.
"Thisletterinterestedmedeeply,becausethechiefdifficultyinthestudyofcatalepsyistherarenessofthedisease.Youmaybelieve,then,thatIwasinmyconsulting-roomwhen,attheappointedhour,thepageshowedinthepatient.
"Hewasanelderlyman,thin,demure,andcommonplace—bynomeanstheconceptiononeformsofaRussiannobleman.Iwasmuchmorestruckbytheappearanceofhiscompanion.Thiswasatallyoungman,surprisinglyhandsome,withadark,fierceface,andthelimbsandchestofaHercules.Hehadhishandundertheother’sarmastheyentered,andhelpedhimtoachairwithatendernesswhichonewouldhardlyhaveexpectedfromhisappearance.
"‘Youwillexcusemycomingin,Doctor,"saidhetome,speakingEnglishwithaslightlisp.‘Thisismyfather,andhishealthisamatterofthemostoverwhelmingimportancetome.’
"Iwastouchedbythisfilialanxiety.‘Youwould,perhaps,caretoremainduringtheconsultation?"saidI.
"‘Notfortheworld,"hecriedwithagestureofhorror.‘ItismorepainfultomethanIcanexpress.IfIweretoseemyfatherinoneofthesedreadfulseizuresIamconvincedthatIshouldneversurviveit.Myownnervoussystemisanexceptionallysensitiveone.
