Собака Баскервіллів
Mr. Sherlock Holmes
"Come,come,wearenotsofarwrong,afterall,"saidHolmes. "Andnow,Dr.JamesMortimer—"
"Mister,sir,Mister—ahumbleM.R.C.S."
"Andamanofprecisemind,evidently."
"Adabblerinscience,Mr.Holmes,apickerupofshellsontheshoresofthegreatunknownocean. IpresumethatitisMr.SherlockHolmeswhomIamaddressingandnot—"
"No,thisismyfriendDr.Watson."
"Gladtomeetyou,sir.Ihaveheardyournamementionedinconnectionwiththatofyourfriend. Youinterestmeverymuch,Mr.Holmes.Ihadhardlyexpectedsodolichocephalicaskullorsuchwell-markedsupra-orbitaldevelopment. Wouldyouhaveanyobjectiontomyrunningmyfingeralongyourparietalfissure? Acastofyourskull,sir,untiltheoriginalisavailable,wouldbeanornamenttoanyanthropologicalmuseum. Itisnotmyintentiontobefulsome,butIconfessthatIcovetyourskull."
SherlockHolmeswavedourstrangevisitorintoachair. "Youareanenthusiastinyourlineofthought,Iperceive,sir,asIaminmine,"saidhe. "Iobservefromyourforefingerthatyoumakeyourowncigarettes.Havenohesitationinlightingone."
Themandrewoutpaperandtobaccoandtwirledtheoneupintheotherwithsurprisingdexterity. Hehadlong,quiveringfingersasagileandrestlessastheantennaeofaninsect.
Holmeswassilent,buthislittledartingglancesshowedmetheinterestwhichhetookinourcuriouscompanion.
