Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Final Problem
"Ifmyrecordwereclosedto-nightIcouldstillsurveyitwithequanimity.TheairofLondonisthesweeterformypresence.InoverathousandcasesIamnotawarethatIhaveeverusedmypowersuponthewrongside.OflateIhavebeentemptedtolookintotheproblemsfurnishedbynatureratherthanthosemoresuperficialonestorwhichourartificialstateofsocietyisresponsible.Yourmemoirswilldrawtoanend,Watson,uponthedaythatIcrownmycareerbythecaptureorextinctionofthemostdangerousandcapablecriminalinEurope."
Ishallbebrief,andyetexact,inthelittlewhichremainsformetotell.ItisnotasubjectonwhichIwouldwillinglydwell,andyetIamconsciousthatadutydevolvesuponmetoomitnodetail.
ItwasonthethirdofMaythatwereachedthelittlevillageofMeiringen,whereweputupattheEnglischerHof,thenkeptbyPeterSteilertheelder.OurlandlordwasanintelligentmanandspokeexcellentEnglish,havingservedforthreeyearsaswaiterattheGrosvenorHotelinLondon.Athisadvice,ontheafternoonofthefourthwesetofftogether,withtheintentionofcrossingthehillsandspendingthenightatthehamletofRosenlaui.Wehadstrictinjunctions,however,onnoaccounttopassthefallsofReichenbach,whichareabouthalfwayupthehills,withoutmakingasmalldetourtoseethem.
Itis,indeed,afearfulplace.
