Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb
"‘Itisnotworthyourwhiletowait,’shewenton. ‘Youcanpassthroughthedoor;noonehinders.’ Andthen,seeingthatIsmiledandshookmyhead,shesuddenlythrewasideherconstraintandmadeastepforward,withherhandswrungtogether. ‘FortheloveofHeaven!’shewhispered,‘getawayfromherebeforeitistoolate!’
"ButIamsomewhatheadstrongbynature,andthemorereadytoengageinanaffairwhenthereissomeobstacleintheway. Ithoughtofmyfifty-guineafee,ofmywearisomejourney,andoftheunpleasantnightwhichseemedtobebeforeme. Wasitalltogofornothing? WhyshouldIslinkawaywithouthavingcarriedoutmycommission,andwithoutthepaymentwhichwasmydue? Thiswomanmight,forallIknew,beamonomaniac. Withastoutbearing,therefore,thoughhermannerhadshakenmemorethanIcaredtoconfess,IstillshookmyheadanddeclaredmyintentionofremainingwhereIwas. Shewasabouttorenewherentreatieswhenadoorslammedoverhead,andthesoundofseveralfootstepswashearduponthestairs. Shelistenedforaninstant,threwupherhandswithadespairinggesture,andvanishedassuddenlyandasnoiselesslyasshehadcome.
"ThenewcomerswereColonelLysanderStarkandashortthickmanwithachinchillabeardgrowingoutofthecreasesofhisdoublechin,whowasintroducedtomeasMr.Ferguson.
"‘Thisismysecretaryandmanager,’saidthecolonel. ‘Bytheway,IwasundertheimpressionthatIleftthisdoorshutjustnow. Ifearthatyouhavefeltthedraught.’
"‘Onthecontrary,’saidI,‘IopenedthedoormyselfbecauseIfelttheroomtobealittleclose.’
