Знак четырех
I. The Science of Deduction
Wouldyoucaretotryit?”
“No,indeed,”Ianswered,brusquely.“MyconstitutionhasnotgotovertheAfghancampaignyet.Icannotaffordtothrowanyextrastrainuponit.”
Hesmiledatmyvehemence.“Perhapsyouareright,Watson,”hesaid.“Isupposethatitsinfluenceisphysicallyabadone.Ifindit,however,sotranscendentlystimulatingandclarifyingtothemindthatitssecondaryactionisamatterofsmallmoment.”
“Butconsider!”Isaid,earnestly.“Countthecost!Yourbrainmay,asyousay,berousedandexcited,butitisapathologicalandmorbidprocess,whichinvolvesincreasedtissue-changeandmayatlastleaveapermanentweakness.Youknow,too,whatablackreactioncomesuponyou.Surelythegameishardlyworththecandle.Whyshouldyou,foramerepassingpleasure,riskthelossofthosegreatpowerswithwhichyouhavebeenendowed?RememberthatIspeaknotonlyasonecomradetoanother,butasamedicalmantooneforwhoseconstitutionheistosomeextentanswerable.”
Hedidnotseemoffended.Onthecontrary,heputhisfinger-tipstogetherandleanedhiselbowsonthearmsofhischair,likeonewhohasarelishforconversation.
“Mymind,”hesaid,“rebelsatstagnation.Givemeproblems,givemework,givemethemostabstrusecryptogramorthemostintricateanalysis,andIaminmyownproperatmosphere.Icandispensethenwithartificialstimulants.ButIabhorthedullroutineofexistence.Icraveformentalexaltation.ThatiswhyIhavechosenmyownparticularprofession,—orrathercreatedit,forIamtheonlyoneintheworld.
