Спогади Шерлока Холмса

           "

           Aninstantlaterourdooropened,andatallyoungmanenteredtheroom.Hewaswellbutquietlydressedinadarkgraysuitandcarriedabrownwide-awakeinhishand.Ishouldhaveputhimataboutthirty,thoughhewasreallysomeyearsolder.

           "Ibegyourpardon,"saidhewithsomeembarrassment,"IsupposeIshouldhaveknocked.Yes,ofcourseIshouldhaveknocked.ThefactisthatIamalittleupset,andyoumustputitalldowntothat."Hepassedhishandoverhisforeheadlikeamanwhoishalfdazed,andthenfellratherthansatdownuponachair.

           "Icanseethatyouhavenotsleptforanightortwo,"saidHolmesinhiseasy,genialway."Thattriesaman’snervesmorethanwork,andmoreeventhanpleasure.MayIaskhowIcanhelpyou?"

           "Iwantedyouradvice,sir.Idon’tknowwhattodo,andmywholelifeseemstohavegonetopieces."

           "Youwishtoemploymeasaconsultingdetective?"

           "Notthatonly.Iwantyouropinionasajudiciousman—asamanoftheworld.IwanttoknowwhatIoughttodonext.IhopetoGodyou’llbeabletotellme."

           Hespokeinlittle,sharp,jerkyoutbursts,anditseemedtomethattospeakatallwasverypainfultohim,andthathiswillallthroughwasoverridinghisinclinations.

           "It’saverydelicatething,"saidhe."Onedoesnotliketospeakofone’sdomesticaffairstostrangers.