Знак чотирьох
IV. The Story of the Bald-Headed Man
Itooktheliberty,therefore,ofmakinganappointmentinsuchawaythatmymanWilliamsmightbeabletoseeyoufirst.Ihavecompleteconfidenceinhisdiscretion,andhehadorders,ifheweredissatisfied,toproceednofurtherinthematter.Youwillexcusetheseprecautions,butIamamanofsomewhatretiring,andImightevensayrefined,tastes,andthereisnothingmoreunæstheticthanapoliceman.Ihaveanaturalshrinkingfromallformsofroughmaterialism.Iseldomcomeincontactwiththeroughcrowd.Ilive,asyousee,withsomelittleatmosphereofelegancearoundme.Imaycallmyselfapatronofthearts.Itismyweakness.ThelandscapeisagenuineCorot,and,thoughaconnoisseurmightperhapsthrowadoubtuponthatSalvatorRosa,therecannotbetheleastquestionabouttheBouguereau.IampartialtothemodernFrenchschool.”
“Youwillexcuseme,Mr.Sholto,”saidMissMorstan,“butIamhereatyourrequesttolearnsomethingwhichyoudesiretotellme.Itisverylate,andIshoulddesiretheinterviewtobeasshortaspossible.”
“Atthebestitmusttakesometime,”heanswered;“forweshallcertainlyhavetogotoNorwoodandseeBrotherBartholomew.WeshallallgoandtryifwecangetthebetterofBrotherBartholomew.Heisveryangrywithmefortakingthecoursewhichhasseemedrighttome.Ihadquitehighwordswithhimlastnight.Youcannotimaginewhataterriblefellowheiswhenheisangry.”
“IfwearetogotoNorwooditwouldperhapsbeaswelltostartatonce,”Iventuredtoremark.
Helaugheduntilhisearswerequitered.
