Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           Then,again,Ihavehearditisnouseyourapplyingifyourhairislightred,ordarkred,oranythingbutrealbright,blazing,fieryred. Now,ifyoucaredtoapply,Mr.Wilson,youwouldjustwalkin; butperhapsitwouldhardlybeworthyourwhiletoputyourselfoutofthewayforthesakeofafewhundredpounds.’ 

           "Now,itisafact,gentlemen,asyoumayseeforyourselves,thatmyhairisofaveryfullandrichtint,sothatitseemedtomethatiftherewastobeanycompetitioninthematterIstoodasgoodachanceasanymanthatIhadevermet. VincentSpauldingseemedtoknowsomuchaboutitthatIthoughthemightproveuseful,soIjustorderedhimtoputuptheshuttersforthedayandtocomerightawaywithme. Hewasverywillingtohaveaholiday,soweshutthebusinessupandstartedofffortheaddressthatwasgivenusintheadvertisement. 

           "Ineverhopetoseesuchasightasthatagain,Mr.Holmes. Fromnorth,south,east,andwesteverymanwhohadashadeofredinhishairhadtrampedintothecitytoanswertheadvertisement. FleetStreetwaschokedwithred-headedfolk,andPope’sCourtlookedlikeacoster’sorangebarrow. Ishouldnothavethoughtthereweresomanyinthewholecountryaswerebroughttogetherbythatsingleadvertisement. Everyshadeofcolourtheywere—straw,lemon,orange,brick,Irish-setter,liver,clay; but,asSpauldingsaid,therewerenotmanywhohadtherealvividflame-colouredtint. WhenIsawhowmanywerewaiting,Iwouldhavegivenitupindespair; butSpauldingwouldnothearofit. HowhediditIcouldnotimagine,buthepushedandpulledandbutteduntilhegotmethroughthecrowd,andrightuptothestepswhichledtotheoffice.