Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb
SherlockHolmeswas,asIexpected,loungingabouthissittingroominhisdressing-gown,readingtheagonycolumnofTheTimesandsmokinghisbefore-breakfastpipe,whichwascomposedofalltheplugsanddottlesleftfromhissmokesofthedaybefore,allcarefullydriedandcollectedonthecornerofthemantelpiece. Hereceivedusinhisquietlygenialfashion,orderedfreshrashersandeggs,andjoinedusinaheartymeal. Whenitwasconcludedhesettledournewacquaintanceuponthesofa,placedapillowbeneathhishead,andlaidaglassofbrandyandwaterwithinhisreach.
"Itiseasytoseethatyourexperiencehasbeennocommonone,Mr.Hatherley,"saidhe. "Pray,liedownthereandmakeyourselfabsolutelyathome. Telluswhatyoucan,butstopwhenyouaretiredandkeepupyourstrengthwithalittlestimulant."
"Thankyou,"saidmypatient."butIhavefeltanothermansincethedoctorbandagedme,andIthinkthatyourbreakfasthascompletedthecure. Ishalltakeupaslittleofyourvaluabletimeaspossible,soIshallstartatonceuponmypeculiarexperiences."
Holmessatinhisbigarmchairwiththeweary,heavy-liddedexpressionwhichveiledhiskeenandeagernature,whileIsatoppositetohim,andwelistenedinsilencetothestrangestorywhichourvisitordetailedtous.
"Youmustknow,"saidhe,"thatIamanorphanandabachelor,residingaloneinlodgingsinLondon. ByprofessionIamahydraulicengineer,andIhavehadconsiderableexperienceofmyworkduringthesevenyearsthatIwasapprenticedtoVenner&Matheson,thewell-knownfirm,ofGreenwich. Twoyearsago,havingservedmytime,andhavingalsocomeintoafairsumofmoneythroughmypoorfather’sdeath,IdeterminedtostartinbusinessformyselfandtookprofessionalchambersinVictoriaStreet.
