Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Resident Patient
’
"‘Butwhy?"Igasped.
"‘Well,it’sjustlikeanyotherspeculation,andsaferthanmost.’
"‘WhatamItodo,then?’
"‘I’lltellyou.I’lltakethehouse,furnishit,paythemaids,andrunthewholeplace.Allyouhavetodoisjusttowearoutyourchairintheconsulting-room.I’llletyouhavepocketmoneyandeverything.Thenyouhandovertomethreequartersofwhatyouearn,andyoukeeptheotherquarterforyourself.’
"Thiswasthestrangeproposal,Mr.Holmes,withwhichthemanBlessingtonapproachedme.Iwon’twearyyouwiththeaccountofhowwebargainedandnegotiated.ItendedinmymovingintothehousenextLadyDay,andstartingin-practiceonverymuchthesameconditionsashehadsuggested.Hecamehimselftolivewithmeinthecharacterofaresidentpatient.Hisheartwasweak,itappears,andheneededconstantmedicalsupervision.Heturnedthetwobestroomsofthefirstfloorintoasitting-roomandbedroomforhimself.Hewasamanofsingularhabits,shunningcompanyandveryseldomgoingout.Hislifewasirregular,butinonerespecthewasregularityitself.Everyevening,atthesamehour,hewalkedintotheconsulting-room,examinedthebooks,putdownfiveandthree-penceforeveryguineathatIhadearned,andcarriedtherestofftothestrongboxinhisownroom.
"Imaysaywithconfidencethatheneverhadoccasiontoregrethisspeculation.Fromthefirstitwasasuccess.
