Этюд в багровых тонах
A Continuation of the Reminiscences of John Watson, M.D.
“TheywererichandIwaspoor,sothatitwasnoeasymatterformetofollowthem. WhenIgottoLondonmypocketwasaboutempty,andIfoundthatImustturnmyhandtosomethingformyliving. Drivingandridingareasnaturaltomeaswalking,soIappliedatacabowner’soffice,andsoongotemployment. Iwastobringacertainsumaweektotheowner,andwhateverwasoverthatImightkeepformyself. Therewasseldommuchover,butImanagedtoscrapealongsomehow. Thehardestjobwastolearnmywayabout,forIreckonthatofallthemazesthateverwerecontrived,thiscityisthemostconfusing. Ihadamapbesidemethough,andwhenonceIhadspottedtheprincipalhotelsandstations,Igotonprettywell.
“ItwassometimebeforeIfoundoutwheremytwogentlemenwereliving;butIinquiredandinquireduntilatlastIdroppedacrossthem. Theywereataboarding-houseatCamberwell,overontheothersideoftheriver. WhenonceIfoundthemoutIknewthatIhadthematmymercy. Ihadgrownmybeard,andtherewasnochanceoftheirrecognizingme. IwoulddogthemandfollowthemuntilIsawmyopportunity. Iwasdeterminedthattheyshouldnotescapemeagain.
“Theywereveryneardoingitforallthat. GowheretheywouldaboutLondon,Iwasalwaysattheirheels. SometimesIfollowedthemonmycab,andsometimesonfoot,buttheformerwasthebest,forthentheycouldnotgetawayfromme. ItwasonlyearlyinthemorningorlateatnightthatIcouldearnanything,sothatIbegantogetbehindhandwithmyemployer. Ididnotmindthat,however,aslongasIcouldlaymyhanduponthemenIwanted.
