Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Naval Treaty
Herrichtintsmadethewhitefaceofhercompanionthemorewornandhaggardbythecontrast.
"Iwon’twasteyourtime,"saidhe,raisinghimselfuponthesofa."I’llplungeintothematterwithoutfurtherpreamble.Iwasahappyandsuccessfulman,Mr.Holmes,andontheeveofbeingmarried,whenasuddenanddreadfulmisfortunewreckedallmyprospectsinlife.
"Iwas,asWatsonmayhavetoldyou,intheForeignOffice,andthroughtheinfluenceofmyuncle,LordHoldhurst,Iroserapidlytoaresponsibleposition.Whenmyunclebecameforeignministerinthisadministrationhegavemeseveralmissionsoftrust,andasIalwaysbroughtthemtoasuccessfulconclusion,hecameatlasttohavetheutmostconfidenceinmyabilityandtact.
"Nearlytenweeksago—tobemoreaccurate,onthetwenty-thirdofMay—hecalledmeintohisprivateroom,and,aftercomplimentingmeonthegoodworkwhichIhaddone,heinformedmethathehadanewcommissionoftrustformetoexecute.
"‘This,"saidhe,takingagrayrollofpaperfromhisbureau,‘istheoriginalofthatsecrettreatybetweenEnglandandItalyofwhich,Iregrettosay,somerumourshavealreadygotintothepublicpress.Itisofenormousimportancethatnothingfurthershouldleakout.TheFrenchortheRussianembassywouldpayanimmensesumtolearnthecontentsofthesepapers.Theyshouldnotleavemybureauwereitnotthatitisabsolutelynecessarytohavethemcopied.
