Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Man with the Twisted Lip
ItwasdifficulttorefuseanyofSherlockHolmes’srequests,fortheywerealwayssoexceedinglydefinite,andputforwardwithsuchaquietairofmastery. Ifelt,however,thatwhenWhitneywasonceconfinedinthecabmymissionwaspracticallyaccomplished;andfortherest,Icouldnotwishanythingbetterthantobeassociatedwithmyfriendinoneofthosesingularadventureswhichwerethenormalconditionofhisexistence. InafewminutesIhadwrittenmynote,paidWhitney’sbill,ledhimouttothecab,andseenhimdriventhroughthedarkness. Inaveryshorttimeadecrepitfigurehademergedfromtheopiumden,andIwaswalkingdownthestreetwithSherlockHolmes. Fortwostreetsheshuffledalongwithabentbackandanuncertainfoot. Then,glancingquicklyround,hestraightenedhimselfoutandburstintoaheartyfitoflaughter.
"Isuppose,Watson,"saidhe,"thatyouimaginethatIhaveaddedopium-smokingtococaineinjections,andalltheotherlittleweaknessesonwhichyouhavefavouredmewithyourmedicalviews."
"Iwascertainlysurprisedtofindyouthere."
"ButnotmoresothanItofindyou."
"Icametofindafriend."
"AndItofindanenemy."
"Anenemy?"
"Yes;oneofmynaturalenemies,or,shallIsay,mynaturalprey.Briefly,Watson,Iaminthemidstofaveryremarkableinquiry,andIhavehopedtofindaclueintheincoherentramblingsofthesesots,asIhavedonebeforenow.
