Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Red-headed League
"‘Never.’
"‘Why,Iwonderatthat,foryouareeligibleyourselfforoneofthevacancies.’
"‘Andwhataretheyworth?’Iasked.
"‘Oh,merelyacoupleofhundredayear,buttheworkisslight,anditneednotinterfereverymuchwithone’sotheroccupations.’
"Well,youcaneasilythinkthatthatmademeprickupmyears,forthebusinesshasnotbeenover-goodforsomeyears,andanextracoupleofhundredwouldhavebeenveryhandy.
"‘Tellmeallaboutit,’saidI.
"‘Well‘saidhe,showingmetheadvertisement,‘youcanseeforyourselfthattheLeaguehasavacancy,andthereistheaddresswhereyoushouldapplyforparticulars. AsfarasIcanmakeout,theLeaguewasfoundedbyanAmericanmillionaire. EzekiahHopkins,whowasverypeculiarinhisways. Hewashimselfred-headed,andhehadagreatsympathyforallredheadedmen;sowhenhedieditwasfoundthathehadlefthisenormousfortuneinthehandsoftrustees,withinstructionstoapplytheinteresttotheprovidingofeasyberthstomenwhosehairisofthatcolour. FromallIhearitissplendidpayandverylittletodo.’
"‘But,’saidI,‘therewouldbemillionsofred-headedmenwhowouldapply.’
"‘Notsomanyasyoumightthink,’heanswered. ‘YouseeitisreallyconfinedtoLondoners,andtogrownmen. ThisAmericanhadstartedfromLondonwhenhewasyoung,andhewantedtodotheoldtownagoodturn.
