Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Greek Interpreter
Ifyoudealfairwithusyou’llnotregretit,butifyoutryanytricks,Godhelpyou!"Hespokeinanervous,jerkyfashion,andwithlittlegigglinglaughsinbetween,butsomehowheimpressedmewithfearmorethantheother.
"‘Whatdoyouwantwithme?"Iasked.
"‘OnlytoaskafewquestionsofaGreekgentlemanwhoisvisitingus,andtoletushavetheanswers.Butsaynomorethanyouaretoldtosay,or—"herecamethenervousgiggleagain—‘youhadbetterneverhavebeenborn.’
"Ashespokeheopenedadoorandshowedthewayintoaroomwhichappearedtobeveryrichlyfurnished,butagaintheonlylightwasaffordedbyasinglelamphalf-turneddown.Thechamberwascertainlylarge,andthewayinwhichmyfeetsankintothecarpetasIsteppedacrossittoldmeofitsrichness.Icaughtglimpsesofvelvetchairs,ahighwhitemarblemantelpiece,andwhatseemedtobeasuitofJapanesearmouratonesideofit.Therewasachairjustunderthelamp,andtheelderlymanmotionedthatIshouldsitinit.Theyoungerhadleftus,buthesuddenlyreturnedthroughanotherdoor,leadingwithhimagentlemancladinsomesortofloosedressing-gownwhomovedslowlytowardsus.AshecameintothecircleofdimlightwhichenabledmetoseehimmoreclearlyIwasthrilledwithhorrorathisappearance.Hewasdeadlypaleandterriblyemaciated,withtheprotruding,brillianteyesofamanwhosespiritwasgreaterthanhisstrength.
