Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb
"Isupposethateveryonefindshisfirstindependentstartinbusinessadrearyexperience. Tomeithasbeenexceptionallyso. DuringtwoyearsIhavehadthreeconsultationsandonesmalljob,andthatisabsolutelyallthatmyprofessionhasbroughtme. Mygrosstakingsamountto27pounds10s. Everyday,fromnineinthemorninguntilfourintheafternoon,Iwaitedinmylittleden,untilatlastmyheartbegantosink,andIcametobelievethatIshouldneverhaveanypracticeatall.
"Yesterday,however,justasIwasthinkingofleavingtheoffice,myclerkenteredtosaytherewasagentlemanwaitingwhowishedtoseemeuponbusiness. Hebroughtupacard,too,withthenameof‘ColonelLysanderStark’engraveduponit. Closeathisheelscamethecolonelhimself,amanratheroverthemiddlesize,butofanexceedingthinness. IdonotthinkthatIhaveeverseensothinaman. Hiswholefacesharpenedawayintonoseandchin,andtheskinofhischeekswasdrawnquitetenseoverhisoutstandingbones. Yetthisemaciationseemedtobehisnaturalhabit,andduetonodisease,forhiseyewasbright,hisstepbrisk,andhisbearingassured. Hewasplainlybutneatlydressed,andhisage,Ishouldjudge,wouldbenearerfortythanthirty.
"‘Mr.Hatherley?’saidhe,withsomethingofaGermanaccent. ‘Youhavebeenrecommendedtome,Mr.Hatherley,asbeingamanwhoisnotonlyproficientinhisprofessionbutisalsodiscreetandcapableofpreservingasecret.’
"Ibowed,feelingasflatteredasanyyoungmanwouldatsuchanaddress. ‘MayIaskwhoitwaswhogavemesogoodacharacter?’
"‘Well,perhapsitisbetterthatIshouldnottellyouthatjustatthismoment. IhaveitfromthesamesourcethatyouarebothanorphanandabachelorandareresidingaloneinLondon.’
