Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Red-headed League
"Ibegintothink,Watson,"saidHolmes,"thatImakeamistakeinexplaining. ‘Omneignotumpromagnifico,’youknow,andmypoorlittlereputation,suchasitis,willsuffershipwreckifIamsocandid. Canyounotfindtheadvertisement,Mr.Wilson?"
"Yes,Ihavegotitnow,"heansweredwithhisthickredfingerplantedhalfwaydownthecolumn. "Hereitis. Thisiswhatbeganitall. Youjustreaditforyourself,sir."
Itookthepaperfromhimandreadasfollows.
TOTHERED-HEADEDLEAGUE:
OnaccountofthebequestofthelateEzekiahHopkins,ofLebanon,Pennsylvania,U.S.A., thereisnowanothervacancyopenwhichentitlesamemberoftheLeaguetoasalaryof4poundsaweekforpurelynominalservices. Allredheadedmenwhoaresoundinbodyandmindandabovetheageoftwenty-oneyears,areeligible. ApplyinpersononMonday,ateleveno’clock,toDuncanRoss,attheofficesoftheLeague,7Pope’sCourt,FleetStreet.
"Whatonearthdoesthismean?"IejaculatedafterIhadtwicereadovertheextraordinaryannouncement.
Holmeschuckledandwriggledinhischair,aswashishabitwheninhighspirits. "Itisalittleoffthebeatentrack,isn’tit?"saidhe. "Andnow,Mr.Wilson,offyougoatscratchandtellusallaboutyourself,yourhousehold,andtheeffectwhichthisadvertisementhaduponyourfortunes.
Youwillfirstmakeanote,Doctor,ofthepaperandthedate."
