Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Greek Interpreter
Latimer,averyfashionablydressedyoungman,cameuptomyroomsandaskedmetoaccompanyhiminacabwhichwaswaitingatthedoor.AGreekfriendhadcometoseehimuponbusiness,hesaid,andashecouldspeaknothingbuthisowntongue,theservicesofaninterpreterwereindispensable.Hegavemetounderstandthathishousewassomelittledistanceoff,inKensington,andheseemedtobeinagreathurry,bustlingmerapidlyintothecabwhenwehaddescendedtothestreet.
"Isayintothecab,butIsoonbecamedoubtfulastowhetheritwasnotacarriageinwhichIfoundmyself.Itwascertainlymoreroomythantheordinaryfour-wheeleddisgracetoLondon,andthefittings,thoughfrayed,wereofrichquality.Mr.LatimerseatedhimselfoppositetomeandwestartedoffthroughCharingCrossanduptheShaftesburyAvenue.WehadcomeoutuponOxfordStreetandIhadventuredsomeremarkastothisbeingaroundaboutwaytoKensington,whenmywordswerearrestedbytheextraordinaryconductofmycompanion.
"Hebeganbydrawingamostformidable-lookingbludgeonloadedwithleadfromhispocket,andswitchingitbackwardandforwardseveraltimes,asiftotestitsweightandstrength.Thenheplaceditwithoutawordupontheseatbesidehim.Havingdonethis,hedrewupthewindowsoneachside,andIfoundtomyastonishmentthattheywerecoveredwithpapersoastopreventmyseeingthroughthem.
"‘Iamsorrytocutoffyourview,Mr.Melas,"saidhe.
