"Well?" said he.

"Good heavens!" I cried. "It is marvelous."

"I trust that age does not wither nor custom stale my infinite variety," said he, and I recognized in his voice the joy and pride which the artist takes in his own creation. "It really is rather like me, is it not?"

"I should be prepared to swear that it was you."

"The credit of the execution is due to Monsieur Oscar Meunier, of Grenoble, who spent some days in doing the moulding. It is a bust in wax. The rest I arranged myself during my visit to Baker Street this afternoon."

"But why?"

"(Ну, как?)" said he.

"(Боже мой!)" I cried. "(Это изумительно)."

"I (надеюсь) that (годы) does not wither nor custom stale my infinite (многосторонность)," said he, and (я узнал в его голосе) the (радость и гордость) which the artist takes in his own creation. "It really is rather like me, is it not?"

"I should be prepared to (поклясться) that it was you."

"(Честь исполнения) is due to Monsieur Oscar Meunier, of Grenoble, who spent some days in doing the moulding. It is a (бюст) in wax. The rest (я устроил сам) during my visit to Baker Street this afternoon."

"But why?"

"Because, my dear Watson, I had the strongest possible (причина) for wishing (некоторые люди) to think that I was there when I was really (где-нибудь в другом месте)."