Собака Баскервіллів
Mr. Sherlock Holmes
Soyourgrave,middle-agedfamilypractitionervanishesintothinair,mydearWatson,andthereemergesayoungfellowunderthirty,amiable,unambitious,absent-minded, andthepossessorofafavouritedog,whichIshoulddescriberoughlyasbeinglargerthanaterrierandsmallerthanamastiff."
IlaughedincredulouslyasSherlockHolmesleanedbackinhissetteeandblewlittlewaveringringsofsmokeuptotheceiling.
"Astothelatterpart,Ihavenomeansofcheckingyou,"saidI,"butatleastitisnotdifficulttofindoutafewparticularsabouttheman’sageandprofessionalcareer." FrommysmallmedicalshelfItookdowntheMedicalDirectoryandturnedupthename. TherewereseveralMortimers,butonlyonewhocouldbeourvisitor. Ireadhisrecordaloud.
"Mortimer,James,M.R.C.S.,1882,Grimpen,Dartmoor,Devon.House-surgeon,from1882to1884,atCharingCrossHospital. WinneroftheJacksonprizeforComparativePathology,withessayentitled‘IsDiseaseaReversion?’ CorrespondingmemberoftheSwedishPathologicalSociety.Authorof‘SomeFreaksofAtavism’(Lancet1882). ‘DoWeProgress?’(JournalofPsychology,March,1883).MedicalOfficerfortheparishesofGrimpen,Thorsley,andHighBarrow."
"Nomentionofthatlocalhunt,Watson,"saidHolmeswithamischievoussmile,"butacountrydoctor,asyouveryastutelyobserved. IthinkthatIamfairlyjustifiedinmyinferences. Astotheadjectives,Isaid,ifIrememberright,amiable,unambitious,andabsent-minded.
