Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb
Ihavetakenyoufullyintomyconfidencenow,Mr.Hatherley,andIhaveshownyouhowItrustyou. ’Heroseashespoke. ‘Ishallexpectyou,then,atEyfordat11:15.’
"‘Ishallcertainlybethere.’
"‘Andnotawordtoasoul.’ Helookedatmewithalastlong,questioninggaze,andthen,pressingmyhandinacold,dankgrasp,hehurriedfromtheroom.
"Well,whenIcametothinkitalloverincoolbloodIwasverymuchastonished,asyoumayboththink,atthissuddencommissionwhichhadbeenintrustedtome. Ontheonehand,ofcourse,Iwasglad,forthefeewasatleasttenfoldwhatIshouldhaveaskedhadIsetapriceuponmyownservices,anditwaspossiblethatthisordermightleadtootherones. Ontheotherhand,thefaceandmannerofmypatronhadmadeanunpleasantimpressionuponme,andIcouldnotthinkthathisexplanationofthefuller’s-earthwassufficienttoexplainthenecessityformycomingatmidnight,andhisextremeanxietylestIshouldtellanyoneofmyerrand. However,Ithrewallfearstothewinds,ateaheartysupper,drovetoPaddington,andstartedoff,havingobeyedtothelettertheinjunctionastoholdingmytongue.
"AtReadingIhadtochangenotonlymycarriagebutmystation. However,IwasintimeforthelasttraintoEyford,andIreachedthelittledim-litstationaftereleveno’clock. Iwastheonlypassengerwhogotoutthere,andtherewasnooneupontheplatformsaveasinglesleepyporterwithalantern. AsIpassedoutthroughthewicketgate,however,Ifoundmyacquaintanceofthemorningwaitingintheshadowupontheotherside.
