福尔摩斯探案集第5季 福尔摩斯探案经典:《恐怖谷》第2章Part2

福尔摩斯探案经典:《恐怖谷》第2章Part2  

"This professor that I've heard you mention?"
"Exactly!"
Inspector MacDonald smiled
and his eyelid quivered as he glanced towards me. "I won't conceal from you
Mr. Holmes
that we think in the C.I.D. that you have a wee bit of a bee in your bon over this professor. I made some inquiries myself about the matter. He seems to be a very respectable
learned
and talented sort of man."
"I'm glad you've got so far as to recognize the talent."
"Man
you can't but recognize it! After I heard your view I made it my business to see him. I had a chat with him on eclipses. How the talk got that way I canna think; but he had out a reflector lantern and a globe
and made it all clear in a minute. He lent me a book; but I don't mind saying that it was a bit above my head
though I had a good Aberdeen upbringing. He'd have made a grand meenister with his thin face and gray hair and solemn-like way of talking. When he put his hand on my shoulder as we were parting
it was like a father's blessing before you go out into the cold
cruel world."
Holmes chuckled and rubbed his hands. "Great!" he said. "Great! Tell me
Friend MacDonald
this pleasing and touching interview was
I suppose
in the professor's study?"
"That's so."
"A fine room
is it not?"
"Very fine -- very handsome indeed
Mr. Holmes."
"You sat in front of his writing desk?"
"Just so."
"Sun in your eyes and his face in the shadow?"
"Well
it was evening; but I mind that the lamp was turned on my face."
"It would be. Did you happen to observe a picture over the professor's head?"
"I don't miss much
Mr. Holmes. Maybe I learned that from you. Yes
I saw the picture--a young woman with her head on her hands
peeping at you sideways."
"That painting was by Jean Baptiste Greuze."
The inspector endeavoured to look interested.
"Jean Baptiste Greuze
" Holmes continued
joining his finger tips and leaning well back in his chair
"was a French artist who flourished beeen the years 1750 and 1800. I allude
of course to his working career. Modern criticism has more than indorsed the high opinion formed of him by his contemporaries."
The inspector's eyes grew abstracted. "Hadn't we better--" he said.