Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Man with the Twisted Lip
Therewasthepointfromwhichallmyadventuresstarted. ItwasonlybytryingbeggingasanamateurthatIcouldgetthefactsuponwhichtobasemyarticles. WhenanactorIhad,ofcourse,learnedallthesecretsofmakingup,andhadbeenfamousinthegreen-roomformyskill. Itookadvantagenowofmyattainments. Ipaintedmyface,andtomakemyselfaspitiableaspossibleImadeagoodscarandfixedonesideofmylipinatwistbytheaidofasmallslipofflesh-colouredplaster. Thenwitharedheadofhair,andanappropriatedress,Itookmystationinthebusinesspartofthecity,ostensiblyasamatch-sellerbutreallyasabeggar. ForsevenhoursIpliedmytrade,andwhenIreturnedhomeintheeveningIfoundtomysurprisethatIhadreceivednolessthan26s.4d.
"Iwrotemyarticlesandthoughtlittlemoreofthematteruntil,sometimelater,Ibackedabillforafriendandhadawritserveduponmefor25pounds. Iwasatmywit’sendwheretogetthemoney,butasuddenideacametome. Ibeggedafortnight’sgracefromthecreditor,askedforaholidayfrommyemployers,andspentthetimeinbeggingintheCityundermydisguise. IntendaysIhadthemoneyandhadpaidthedebt.
"Well,youcanimaginehowharditwastosettledowntoarduousworkat2poundsaweekwhenIknewthatIcouldearnasmuchinadaybysmearingmyfacewithalittlepaint,layingmycapontheground,andsittingstill. Itwasalongfightbetweenmyprideandthemoney,butthedollarswonatlast,andIthrewupreportingandsatdayafterdayinthecornerwhichIhadfirstchosen,inspiringpitybymyghastlyfaceandfillingmypocketswithcoppers. Onlyonemanknewmysecret. HewasthekeeperofalowdeninwhichIusedtolodgeinSwandamLane,whereIcouldeverymorningemergeasasqualidbeggarandintheeveningstransformmyselfintoawell-dressedmanabouttown. Thisfellow,alascar,waswellpaidbymeforhisrooms,sothatIknewthatmysecretwassafeinhispossession.
