Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           "Andnowawordastomyhousehold,Mr.Holmes,forIwishyoutothoroughlyunderstandthesituation. Mygroomandmypagesleepoutofthehouse,andmaybesetasidealtogether. Ihavethreemaid-servantswhohavebeenwithmeanumberofyearsandwhoseabsolutereliabilityisquiteabovesuspicion. Another,LucyParr,thesecondwaiting-maid,hasonlybeeninmyserviceafewmonths. Shecamewithanexcellentcharacter,however,andhasalwaysgivenmesatisfaction. Sheisaveryprettygirlandhasattractedadmirerswhohaveoccasionallyhungabouttheplace. Thatistheonlydrawbackwhichwehavefoundtoher,butwebelievehertobeathoroughlygoodgirlineveryway. 

           "Somuchfortheservants. Myfamilyitselfissosmallthatitwillnottakemelongtodescribeit. Iamawidowerandhaveanonlyson,Arthur. Hehasbeenadisappointmenttome,Mr.Holmes—agrievousdisappointment. IhavenodoubtthatIammyselftoblame. PeopletellmethatIhavespoiledhim. VerylikelyIhave. WhenmydearwifediedIfeltthathewasallIhadtolove. Icouldnotbeartoseethesmilefadeevenforamomentfromhisface. Ihaveneverdeniedhimawish. PerhapsitwouldhavebeenbetterforbothofushadIbeensterner,butImeantitforthebest. 

           "Itwasnaturallymyintentionthatheshouldsucceedmeinmybusiness,buthewasnotofabusinessturn. Hewaswild,wayward,and,tospeakthetruth,Icouldnottrusthiminthehandlingoflargesumsofmoney. Whenhewasyounghebecameamemberofanaristocraticclub,andthere,havingcharmingmanners,hewassoontheintimateofanumberofmenwithlongpursesandexpensivehabits. Helearnedtoplayheavilyatcardsandtosquandermoneyontheturf,untilhehadagainandagaintocometomeandimploremetogivehimanadvanceuponhisallowance,thathemightsettlehisdebtsofhonour.