Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
Yetevenwithoutknowinghisbrilliantrecordonecouldnotfailtobeimpressedbyamereglanceattheman,thesquare,massiveface,thebroodingeyesunderthethatchedbrows,andthegranitemouldingoftheinflexiblejaw.Amanofdeepcharacter,amanwithanalertmind,grim,ascetic,self-contained,formidable—soIreadDr.LeslieArmstrong.Heheldmyfriend’scardinhishand,andhelookedupwithnoverypleasedexpressionuponhisdourfeatures.
“Ihaveheardyourname,Mr.SherlockHolmes,andIamawareofyourprofession—oneofwhichIbynomeansapprove.”
“Inthat,Doctor,youwillfindyourselfinagreementwitheverycriminalinthecountry,”saidmyfriend,quietly.
“Sofarasyoureffortsaredirectedtowardsthesuppressionofcrime,sir,theymusthavethesupportofeveryreasonablememberofthecommunity,thoughIcannotdoubtthattheofficialmachineryisamplysufficientforthepurpose.Whereyourcallingismoreopentocriticismiswhenyoupryintothesecretsofprivateindividuals,whenyourakeupfamilymatterswhicharebetterhidden,andwhenyouincidentallywastethetimeofmenwhoaremorebusythanyourself.Atthepresentmoment,forexample,Ishouldbewritingatreatiseinsteadofconversingwithyou.”
“Nodoubt,Doctor;andyettheconversationmayprovemoreimportantthanthetreatise.
