Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
Hehadforesight,buthaslessnowthanformerly,pointingtoamoralretrogression,which,whentakenwiththedeclineofhisfortunes,seemstoindicatesomeevilinfluence,probablydrink,atworkuponhim. Thismayaccountalsofortheobviousfactthathiswifehasceasedtolovehim."
"MydearHolmes!"
"Hehas,however,retainedsomedegreeofself-respect,"hecontinued,disregardingmyremonstrance. "Heisamanwholeadsasedentarylife,goesoutlittle,isoutoftrainingentirely,ismiddle-aged,hasgrizzledhairwhichhehashadcutwithinthelastfewdays,andwhichheanointswithlime-cream. Thesearethemorepatentfactswhicharetobededucedfromhishat. Also,bytheway,thatitisextremelyimprobablethathehasgaslaidoninhishouse."
"Youarecertainlyjoking,Holmes."
"Notintheleast. Isitpossiblethatevennow,whenIgiveyoutheseresults,youareunabletoseehowtheyareattained?"
"IhavenodoubtthatIamverystupid,butImustconfessthatIamunabletofollowyou. Forexample,howdidyoudeducethatthismanwasintellectual?"
ForanswerHolmesclappedthehatuponhishead. Itcamerightovertheforeheadandsettleduponthebridgeofhisnose. "Itisaquestionofcubiccapacity,"saidhe;"amanwithsolargeabrainmusthavesomethinginit."
"Thedeclineofhisfortunes,then?"
"Thishatisthreeyearsold. Theseflatbrimscurledattheedgecameinthen. Itisahatoftheverybestquality. Lookatthebandofribbedsilkandtheexcellentlining.
