Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Naval Treaty
Whatalovelythingaroseis!"
Hewalkedpastthecouchtotheopenwindowandheldupthedroopingstalkofamoss-rose,lookingdownatthedaintyblendofcrimsonandgreen.Itwasanewphaseofhischaractertome,forIhadneverbeforeseenhimshowanykeeninterestinnaturalobjects.
"Thereisnothinginwhichdeductionissonecessaryasinreligion,"saidhe,leaningwithhisbackagainsttheshutters."Itcanbebuiltupasanexactsciencebythereasoner.OurhighestassuranceofthegoodnessofProvidenceseemstometorestintheflowers.Allotherthings,ourpowers,ourdesires,ourfood,areallreallynecessaryforourexistenceinthefirstinstance.Butthisroseisanextra.Itssmellanditscolourareanembellishmentoflife,notaconditionofit.Itisonlygoodnesswhichgivesextras,andsoIsayagainthatwehavemuchtohopefromtheflowers."
PercyPhelpsandhisnurselookedatHolmesduringthisdemonstrationwithsurpriseandagooddealofdisappointmentwrittenupontheirfaces.Hehadfallenintoareverie,withthemoss-rosebetweenhisfingers.Ithadlastedsomeminutesbeforetheyoungladybrokeinuponit.
"Doyouseeanyprospectofsolvingthismystery,Mr.Holmes?"sheaskedwithatouchofasperityinhervoice.
"Oh,themystery!"heanswered,comingbackwithastarttotherealitiesoflife.
