Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb
"‘Yes,ourlittleplaceisquiteoutinthecountry. ItisagoodsevenmilesfromEyfordStation.’
"‘Thenwecanhardlygettherebeforemidnight. Isupposetherewouldbenochanceofatrainback. Ishouldbecompelledtostopthenight.’
"‘Yes,wecouldeasilygiveyouashake-down.’
"‘Thatisveryawkward. CouldInotcomeatsomemoreconvenienthour?’
"‘Wehavejudgeditbestthatyoushouldcomelate. Itistorecompenseyouforanyinconveniencethatwearepayingtoyou,ayoungandunknownman,afeewhichwouldbuyanopinionfromtheveryheadsofyourprofession. Still,ofcourse,ifyouwouldliketodrawoutofthebusiness,thereisplentyoftimetodoso.’
"Ithoughtofthefiftyguineas,andofhowveryusefultheywouldbetome. ‘Notatall,’saidI,‘Ishallbeveryhappytoaccommodatemyselftoyourwishes. Ishouldlike,however,tounderstandalittlemoreclearlywhatitisthatyouwishmetodo.’
"‘Quiteso. Itisverynaturalthatthepledgeofsecrecywhichwehaveexactedfromyoushouldhavearousedyourcuriosity. Ihavenowishtocommityoutoanythingwithoutyourhavingitalllaidbeforeyou. Isupposethatweareabsolutelysafefromeavesdroppers?’
"‘Entirely.’
"‘Thenthematterstandsthus. Youareprobablyawarethatfuller’s-earthisavaluableproduct,andthatitisonlyfoundinoneortwoplacesinEngland?’
"‘Ihaveheardso.’
