福尔摩斯探案全集哪个版本最好 福尔摩斯探案经典:《恐怖谷》第1章Part1

福尔摩斯探案经典:《恐怖谷》第1章Part1  

"I am inclined to think--" said I.
"I should do so
" Sherlock Holmes remarked impatiently.
I believe that I am one of the most long-suffering of mortals; but I'll admit that I was annoyed at the sardonic interruption. "Really
Holmes
" said I severely
"you are a little trying at times."
He was too much absorbed with his own thoughts to give any immediate answer to my remonstrance. He leaned upon his hand
with his untasted breakfast before him
and he stared at the slip of paper which he had just drawn from its envelope. Then he took the envelope itself
held it up to the light
and very carefully studied both the exterior and the flap.
"It is Porlock's writing
" said he thoughtfully. "I can hardly doubt that it is Porlock's writing
though I have seen it only ice before. The Greek e with the peculiar top flourish is distinctive. But if it is Porlock
then it must be something of the very first importance."
He was speaking to himself rather than to me; but my vexation disappeared in the interest which the words awakened.
"Who then is Porlock?" I asked.
"Porlock
Watson
is a nom-de-plume
a mere identification mark; but behind it lies a shifty and evasive personality. In a former letter he frankly informed me that the name was not his own
and defied me ever to trace him among the teeming millions of this great city. Porlock is important
not for himself
but for the great man with whom he is in touch. Picture to yourself the pilot fish with the shark
the jackal with the lion--anything that is insignificant in panionship with what is formidable: not only formidable
Watson
but sinister--in the highest degree sinister. That is where he es within my purview. You have heard me speak of Professor Moriarty?"
"The famous scientific criminal
as famous among crooks as--"
"My blushes
Watson!" Holmes murmured in a deprecating voice.
"I was about to say
as he is unknown to the public."
"A touch! A distinct touch!" cried Holmes. "You are developing a certain unexpected vein of pawky humour
Watson
against which I must learn to guard myself. But in calling Moriarty a criminal you are uttering libel in the eyes of the law--and there lie the glory and the wonder of it! The greatest schemer of all time
the anizer of every deviltry
the controlling brain of the underworld
a brain which might have made or marred the destiny of nations--that's the man! But so aloof is he from general suspicion
so immune from criticism
so admirable in his management and self-effacement
that for those very words that you have uttered he could hale you to a court and emerge with your year's pension as a solatium for his wounded character. Is he not the celebrated author of The Dynamics of an Asteroid
a book which ascends to such rarefied heights of pure mathematics that it is said that there was no man in the scientific press capable of criticizing it? Is this a man to traduce? Foul-mouthed doctor and slandered professor--such would be your respective roles! That's genius
Watson. But if I am spared by lesser men
our day will surely e."
"May I be there to see!" I exclaimed devoutly. "But you were speaking of this man Porlock."
"Ah
yes--the so-called Porlock is a link in the chain some little way from its great attachment. Porlock is not quite a sound link--beeen ourselves. He is the only flaw in that chain so far as I have been able to test it."
"But no chain is stronger than its weakest link."
"Exactly
my dear Watson! Hence the extreme importance of Porlock. Led on by some rudimentary aspirations towards right
and encouraged by the judicious stimulation of an occasional ten-pound note sent to him by devious methods
he has once or ice given me advance information which has been of value--that highest value which anticipates and prevents rather than avenges crime. I cannot doubt that
if we had the cipher
we should find that this munication is of the nature that I indicate."
Again Holmes flattened out the paper upon his unused plate. I rose and
leaning over him
stared down at the curious inscription
which ran as follows:
534 C2 13 127 36 31 4 17 21 41 DOUGLAS 109 293 5 37 BIRLSTONE 26 BIRLSTONE 9 47 171
534　C2　13　127　36　31　4　17　21　41 DOUGLAS　109　293　5　37　BIRLSTONE 26　BIRLSTONE　9　47　171