"Doyle, Arthur Conan - Hound Of The Baskervilles, The" - читать интересную книгу автора (Doyle Arthur Conan)

marks, is too broad in my opinion for a terrier and not
broad enough for a mastiff. It may have been -- yes,
by Jove, it _is_ a curly-haired spaniel."

He had risen and paced the room as he spoke. Now he halted
in the recess of the window. There was such a ring of
conviction in his voice that I glanced up in surprise.

"My dear fellow, how can you possibly be so sure of that?"

"For the very simple reason that I see the dog himself on
our very doorstep, and there is the ring of its owner.
Don't move, I beg you, Watson. He is a professional brother
of yours, and your presence may be of assistance to me. Now
is the dramatic moment of fate, Watson, when you hear a step
upon the stair which is walking into your life, and you know
not whether for good or ill. What does Dr. James Mortimer,
the man of science, ask of Sherlock Holmes, the specialist
in crime? Come in!"

The appearance of our visitor was a surprise to me, since I
had expected a typical country practitioner. He was a very
tall, thin man, with a long nose like a beak, which jutted
out between two keen, grey eyes, set closely together and
sparkling brightly from behind a pair of gold-rimmed
glasses. He was clad in a professional but rather slovenly
fashion, for his frock-coat was dingy and his trousers frayed.
Though young, his long back was already bowed, and
he walked with a forward thrust of his head and a general
air of peering benevolence. As he entered his eyes fell
upon the stick in Holmes's hand, and he ran towards it with
an exclamation of joy. "I am so very glad," said he.
"I was not sure whether I had left it here or in the Shipping
Office. I would not lose that stick for the world."

"A presentation, I see," said Holmes.

"Yes, sir."

"From Charing Cross Hospital?"

"From one or two friends there on the occasion of my marriage."

"Dear, dear, that's bad!" said Holmes, shaking his head.

Dr. Mortimer blinked through his glasses in mild astonishment.

"Why was it bad?"

"Only that you have disarranged our little deductions.