Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Naval Treaty
Withoutgoingintodetails,ImaysaythatitdefinedthepositionofGreatBritaintowardstheTripleAlliance,andforeshadowedthepolicywhichthiscountrywouldpursueintheeventoftheFrenchfleetgainingacompleteascendencyoverthatofItalyintheMediterranean.Thequestionstreatedinitwerepurelynaval.Attheendwerethesignaturesofthehighdignitarieswhohadsignedit.Iglancedmyeyesoverit,andthensettleddowntomytaskofcopying.
"Itwasalongdocument,writtenintheFrenchlanguage,andcontainingtwenty-sixseparatearticles.IcopiedasquicklyasIcould,butatnineo’clockIhadonlydoneninearticles,anditseemedhopelessformetoattempttocatchmytrain.Iwasfeelingdrowsyandstupid,partlyfrommydinnerandalsofromtheeffectsofalongday’swork.Acupofcoffeewouldclearmybrain.Acommissionaireremainsallnightinalittlelodgeatthefootofthestairsandisinthehabitofmakingcoffeeathisspirit-lampforanyoftheofficialswhomaybeworkingovertime.Irangthebell,therefore,tosummonhim.
"Tomysurprise,itwasawomanwhoansweredthesummons,alarge,coarse-faced,elderlywoman,inanapron.Sheexplainedthatshewasthecommissionaire’swife,whodidthecharing,andIgavehertheorderforthecoffee.
"Iwrotetwomorearticles,andthen,feelingmoredrowsythanever,Iroseandwalkedupanddowntheroomtostretchmylegs.Mycoffeehadnotyetcome,andIwonderedwhatthecauseofthedelaycouldbe.
