Етюд у багряних тонах

           Whathaveyoutoconfessnow?It’sjustaswellfortwofellowstoknowtheworstofoneanotherbeforetheybegintolivetogether.” 

           Ilaughedatthiscross-examination. “Ikeepabullpup,”Isaid,“andIobjecttorowsbecausemynervesareshaken,andIgetupatallsortsofungodlyhours,andIamextremelylazy. IhaveanothersetofviceswhenI’mwell,butthosearetheprincipalonesatpresent.” 

           “Doyouincludeviolin-playinginyourcategoryofrows?”heasked,anxiously. 

           “Itdependsontheplayer,”Ianswered.“Awell-playedviolinisatreatforthegods—abadly-playedone——” 

           “Oh,that’sallright,”hecried,withamerrylaugh.“Ithinkwemayconsiderthethingassettled—thatis,iftheroomsareagreeabletoyou.” 

           “Whenshallweseethem?” 

           “Callformehereatnoonto-morrow,andwe’llgotogetherandsettleeverything,”heanswered. 

           “Allright—noonexactly,”saidI,shakinghishand. 

           Welefthimworkingamonghischemicals,andwewalkedtogethertowardsmyhotel. 

           “Bytheway,”Iaskedsuddenly,stoppingandturninguponStamford,“howthedeucedidheknowthatIhadcomefromAfghanistan?” 

           Mycompanionsmiledanenigmaticalsmile. “That’sjusthislittlepeculiarity,”hesaid.“Agoodmanypeoplehavewantedtoknowhowhefindsthingsout.” 

           “Oh!amysteryisit?”Icried,rubbingmyhands. “Thisisverypiquant.Iammuchobligedtoyouforbringingustogether.‘Theproperstudyofmankindisman,’youknow.”