Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Resident Patient
Withyourpermission,Iwillremaininthewaiting-roomwhileyougointomyfather’scase.’
"Tothis,ofcourse,Iassented,andtheyoungmanwithdrew.ThepatientandIthenplungedintoadiscussionofhiscase,ofwhichItookexhaustivenotes.Hewasnotremarkableforintelligence,andhisanswerswerefrequentlyobscure,whichIattributedtohislimitedacquaintancewithourlanguage.Suddenly,however,asIsatwriting,heceasedtogiveanyansweratalltomyinquiries,andonmyturningtowardshimIwasshockedtoseethathewassittingboltuprightinhischair,staringatmewithaperfectlyblankandrigidface.Hewasagaininthegripofhismysteriousmalady.
"Myfirstfeeling,asIhavejustsaid,wasoneofpityandhorror.Mysecond,Ifear,wasratheroneofprofessionalsatisfaction.Imadenotesofmypatient’spulseandtemperature,testedtherigidityofhismuscles,andexaminedhisreflexes.Therewasnothingmarkedlyabnormalinanyoftheseconditions,whichharmonizedwithmyformerexperiences.Ihadobtainedgoodresultsinsuchcasesbytheinhalationofnitriteofamyl,andthepresentseemedanadmirableopportunityoftestingitsvirtues.Thebottlewasdownstairsinmylaboratory,so,leavingmypatientseatedinhischair,Irandowntogetit.Therewassomelittledelayinfindingit—fiveminutes,letussay—andthenIreturned.Imaginemyamazementtofindtheroomemptyandthepatientgone.
"Ofcourse,myfirstactwastorunintothewaiting-room.
