Знак четырех / The Sign of the Four

I examine the data, as an expert, and pronounce a specialist’s opinion. I claim no credit[12 - Claim no credit– не требую никакой награды.] in such cases. My name figures in no newspaper. The work itself, the pleasure of finding a field for my peculiar powers, is my highest reward. But you have yourself had some experience of my methods of work in the Jefferson Hope case.’

�Yes, indeed,’ said I cordially. �I was never so struck by anything in my life. I even embodied it in a small brochure, with the somewhat fantastic title of “A Study in Scarlet.

”’

He shook his head sadly.

�I glanced over it,’ said he. �Honestly, I cannot congratulate you upon it. Detection is, or ought to be, an exact science and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner. You have attempted to tinge it with romanticism, which produces much the same effect as if you worked a love-story or an elopement into the fifth proposition of Euclid.

[13 - The fifth proposition of Euclid– пятый постулат Евклида, (аксиома параллельности, одна из аксиом классической планиметрии).]’

�But the romance was there,’ I remonstrated. �I could not tamper with the facts.’

�Some facts should be suppressed, or, at least, a just sense of proportion should be observed in treating them. The only point in the case which deserved mention was the curious analytical reasoning from effects to causes, by which I succeeded in unravelling it.

’

I was annoyed at this criticism of a work which had been specially designed to please him. I confess, too, that I was irritated by the egotism which seemed to demand that every line of my pamphlet should be devoted to his own special doings. More than once during the years that I had lived with him in Baker Street I had observed that a small vanity underlay my companion’s quiet and didactic manner.

I made no remark however, but sat nursing my wounded leg. I had had a Jezail[14 - A Jezail– тип длинноствольного ружья ручного производства на Среднем Востоке (в Афганистане) до начала ХХ в.] bullet through it some time before, and though it did not prevent me from walking it ached wearily at every change of the weather.