Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez
“Alas!whatafatalinterruption!Whocouldhaveforeseensuchaterriblecatastrophe?Soestimableayoungman!Iassureyouthat,afterafewmonths’training,hewasanadmirableassistant.Whatdoyouthinkofthematter,Mr.Holmes?”
“Ihavenotyetmadeupmymind.”
“Ishallindeedbeindebtedtoyouifyoucanthrowalightwhereallissodarktous.Toapoorbookwormandinvalidlikemyselfsuchablowisparalysing.Iseemtohavelostthefacultyofthought.Butyouareamanofaction—youareamanofaffairs.Itispartoftheeverydayroutineofyourlife.Youcanpreserveyourbalanceineveryemergency.Wearefortunate,indeed,inhavingyouatourside.”
Holmeswaspacingupanddownonesideoftheroomwhilsttheoldprofessorwastalking.Iobservedthathewassmokingwithextraordinaryrapidity.Itwasevidentthathesharedourhost’slikingforthefreshAlexandriancigarettes.
“Yes,sir,itisacrushingblow,”saidtheoldman.“Thatismymagnumopus—thepileofpapersonthesidetableyonder.ItismyanalysisofthedocumentsfoundintheCopticmonasteriesofSyriaandEgypt,aworkwhichwillcutdeepattheveryfoundationofrevealedreligion.WithmyenfeebledhealthIdonotknowwhetherIshalleverbeabletocompleteit,nowthatmyassistanthasbeentakenfromme.Dearme!Mr.Holmes,why,youareevenaquickersmokerthanIammyself.”
Holmessmiled.
“Iamaconnoisseur,”saidhe,takinganothercigarettefromthebox—hisfourth—andlightingitfromthestubofthatwhichhehadfinished.
