Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Yellow Face
Savefortheoccasionaluseofcocaine,hehadnovices,andheonlyturnedtothedrugasaprotestagainstthemonotonyofexistencewhencaseswerescantyandthepapersuninteresting.
OnedayinearlyspringhehadsofarrelaxedastogoforawalkwithmeinthePark,wherethefirstfaintshootsofgreenwerebreakingoutupontheelms,andthestickyspear-headsofthechestnutswerejustbeginningtoburstintotheirfive-foldleaves.Fortwohourswerambledabouttogether,insilenceforthemostpart,asbefitstwomenwhoknoweachotherintimately.ItwasnearlyfivebeforewewerebackinBakerStreetoncemore.
"Begpardon,sir,"saidourpage-boyasheopenedthedoor."There’sbeenagentlemanhereaskingforyou,sir."
Holmesglancedreproachfullyatme."Somuchforafternoonwalks!"saidhe."Hasthisgentlemangone,then?"
"Yes,sir."
"Didn’tyouaskhimin?"
"Yes,sir,hecamein."
"Howlongdidhewait?"
"Halfanhour,sir.Hewasaveryrestlessgentleman,sira-walkin"anda-stampin"allthetimehewashere.Iwaswaitin"outsidethedoor,sir,andIcouldhearhim.Atlastheoutsintothepassage,andhecries,‘Isthatmannevergoin"tocome?"Thosewerehisverywords,sir.‘You’llonlyneedtowaitalittlelonger,"saysI.‘ThenI’llwaitintheopenair,forIfeelhalfchoked,"sayshe.‘I’llbebackbeforelong.
