Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Red-headed League
"ItisTheMorningChronicleofApril27,1890.Justtwomonthsago."
"Verygood.Now,Mr.Wilson?"
"Well,itisjustasIhavebeentellingyou,Mr.SherlockHolmes,"saidJabezWilson,moppinghisforehead;"Ihaveasmallpawnbroker’sbusinessatCoburgSquare,neartheCity. It’snotaverylargeaffair,andoflateyearsithasnotdonemorethanjustgivemealiving. Iusedtobeabletokeeptwoassistants,butnowIonlykeepone;andIwouldhaveajobtopayhimbutthatheiswillingtocomeforhalfwagessoastolearnthebusiness."
"Whatisthenameofthisobligingyouth?"askedSherlockHolmes.
"HisnameisVincentSpaulding,andhe’snotsuchayouth,either. It’shardtosayhisage. Ishouldnotwishasmarterassistant,Mr.Holmes; andIknowverywellthathecouldbetterhimselfandearntwicewhatIamabletogivehim. But,afterall,ifheissatisfied,whyshouldIputideasinhishead?"
"Why,indeed? Youseemmostfortunateinhavinganemployeewhocomesunderthefullmarketprice.Itisnotacommonexperienceamongemployersinthisage. Idon’tknowthatyourassistantisnotasremarkableasyouradvertisement."
"Oh,hehashisfaults,too,"saidMr.Wilson. "Neverwassuchafellowforphotography. Snappingawaywithacamerawhenheoughttobeimprovinghismind,andthendivingdownintothecellarlikearabbitintoitsholetodevelophispictures. Thatishismainfault,butonthewholehe’sagoodworker.There’snoviceinhim."
