Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Red-headed League
"Heisstillwithyou,Ipresume?"
"Yes,sir. Heandagirloffourteen,whodoesabitofsimplecookingandkeepstheplaceclean—that’sallIhaveinthehouse,forIamawidowerandneverhadanyfamily. Weliveveryquietly,sir,thethreeofus;andwekeeparoofoverourheadsandpayourdebts,ifwedonothingmore.
"Thefirstthingthatputusoutwasthatadvertisement.Spaulding,hecamedownintotheofficejustthisdayeightweeks,withthisverypaperinhishand,andhesays:
"‘IwishtotheLord,Mr.Wilson,thatIwasared-headedman.’
"‘Whythat?’Iasks.
"‘Why,’sayshe,‘here’sanothervacancyontheLeagueoftheRed-headedMen. It’sworthquitealittlefortunetoanymanwhogetsit,andIunderstandthattherearemorevacanciesthantherearemen,sothatthetrusteesareattheirwits’endwhattodowiththemoney. Ifmyhairwouldonlychangecolour,here’sanicelittlecriballreadyformetostepinto.’
"‘Why,whatisit,then?’Iasked. Yousee.Mr.Holmes,Iamaverystay-at-homeman,andasmybusinesscametomeinsteadofmyhavingtogotoit,Iwasoftenweeksonendwithoutputtingmyfootoverthedoor-mat. InthatwayIdidn’tknowmuchofwhatwasgoingonoutside,andIwasalwaysgladofabitofnews.
"‘HaveyouneverheardoftheLeagueoftheRed-headedMen?’heaskedwithhiseyesopen.
