Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Greek Interpreter
Hehadceasedtomoanaswelaidhimdown,andaglanceshowedmethatforhimatleastouraidhadcometoolate.Mr.Melas,however,stilllived,andinlessthananhour,withtheaidofammoniaandbrandy,Ihadthesatisfactionofseeinghimopenhiseyes,andofknowingthatmyhandhaddrawnhimbackfromthatdarkvalleyinwhichallpathsmeet.
Itwasasimplestorywhichhehadtotell,andonewhichdidbutconfirmourowndeductions.Hisvisitor,onenteringhisrooms,haddrawnalife-preserverfromhissleeve,andhadsoimpressedhimwiththefearofinstantandinevitabledeaththathehadkidnappedhimforthesecondtime.Indeed,itwasalmostmesmeric,theeffectwhichthisgigglingruffianhadproducedupontheunfortunatelinguist,forhecouldnotspeakofhimsavewithtremblinghandsandablanchedcheek.HehadbeentakenswiftlytoBeckenham,andhadactedasinterpreterinasecondinterview,evenmoredramaticthanthefirst,inwhichthetwoEnglishmenhadmenacedtheirprisonerwithinstantdeathifhedidnotcomplywiththeirdemands.Finally,findinghimproofagainsteverythreat,theyhadhurledhimbackintohisprisonandafterreproachingMelaswithhistreachery,whichappearedfromthenewspaperadvertisement,theyhadstunnedhimwithablowfromastick,andherememberednothingmoreuntilhefoundusbendingoverhim.
AndthiswasthesingularcaseoftheGrecianInterpreter,theexplanationofwhichisstillinvolvedinsomemystery.
